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Groundwater Iron Levels in Connecticut’s FIPS 180 Aquifer 112DFSF

U.S. Geological Survey data collected from June 2015 through November 2025 in aquifer 112DFSF of FIPS 180, Connecticut, measured iron concentrations in 70 samples gathered from 19 wells ranging from 10 to 80 feet deep. Iron was detected in 21 samples with a median value of 19.5 micrograms per liter (ug/L) and a range from as low as 0.04 up to 700 ug/L. Importantly, none of these results exceeded any federal threshold, indicating iron concentrations within the regulatory range for this region's groundwater.

How Iron Enters Groundwater and Distribution in This Region

Iron is a naturally occurring element commonly found in soil and rock formations, including those underlying the Connecticut FIPS 180 area. It dissolves into groundwater through natural weathering and contact with iron-bearing minerals in aquifer materials. In this region, the presence of iron in wells varies depending on local geology, and water that travels through iron-rich soils or sediments often carries dissolved iron. While municipal or private water systems may treat water to reduce iron, its source remains geological rather than from contamination.

Influence of Well Depth and Source Type on Water Quality Expectations

The sampled wells in this area ranged from shallow (10 feet) to moderately deep (80 feet). Typically, shallower wells may show more variability in iron levels due to surface interactions, whereas deeper wells often have more stable but sometimes higher or lower concentrations depending on the aquifer layers. Therefore, a residential property drawing water from a well within this depth range should expect some variation in iron presence, but personal water testing is essential to determine exact conditions.

Distinguishing Aesthetic Secondary Standards from Health-Based Limits for Iron

Iron in water is regulated mainly by aesthetic secondary standards rather than health-based limits. This means iron concentrations influence characteristics like taste, color, and staining potential but are not recognized as a health risk at the levels typically found in this area. For metallic taste issues, the threshold for aesthetic acceptability is often lower than any health-based limit, focusing on improving consumer experience rather than addressing safety concerns.

How Metallic Taste Differs from Similar Water Quality Issues

Metallic taste can be confused with other water quality problems such as excessive mineral hardness or the presence of other metals like copper or manganese. However, iron’s influence on taste is unique and often associated with a distinct metallic or metallic-like flavor. This taste issue is separate from odor problems or cloudy water resulting from sediment or biological activity. Testing for specific metals, especially iron, helps isolate the cause of metallic taste rather than assuming other common water concerns.

What the Range of Iron Concentrations Means for Your Water and What It Does Not

The reported range of iron from 0.04 to 700 ug/L in this aquifer is broad but does not imply that any individual well water necessarily contains elevated iron. Detection alone does not equate to an exceedance or safety violation. The median level near 19.5 ug/L suggests moderate presence typical in this area, but actual home water testing is necessary to confirm levels for a particular residence. No federal health-based limit was exceeded in these samples, so the primary issue here is taste and aesthetics rather than safety.

Addressing Metallic Taste With the Pentair Metallic-Tasting Water Filter

For households experiencing metallic taste linked to iron or similar constituents in the FIPS 180, CT aquifer, the Pentair Metallic-Tasting Water Filter offers a direct-purchase solution that ships ready to configure for household water treatment. This system targets metallic taste concerns at typical residential demand levels, improving water flavor by reducing the factors contributing to the unwanted metallic flavor. To select the appropriate equipment capacity, users should measure their household water demand and iron or related constituent levels via direct testing. This personalized approach ensures effective treatment tailored to individual well or tap water conditions.

Where this information comes from

Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2025-11-21. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.

On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of Iron in the 112DFSF aquifer (FIPS 180): 70 results from 19 wells, median 19.5 ug/L, range 0.04-700.0 ug/L; none above any federal threshold