What a Certified Laboratory Test for Iron Reports and How to Read It
A certified laboratory water test analyzes your well water by measuring iron concentration in micrograms per liter (ug/L). The results report numerical values for iron levels detected in a water sample. It may also indicate if iron is below the laboratory's reporting limit, meaning it was too low to measure accurately. These reports do not identify health risks alone but provide a basis for understanding water characteristics specific to your well.
What the Measured Range Means Against the Relevant Federal Standard, and What It Does Not Mean
Government sampling in Harvey County's aquifer 112PLSC shows iron concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 34,900 ug/L across wells between 27 and 270 feet deep. Importantly, none of these results exceeded any federal health-based iron thresholds. This demonstrates that detection of iron is common but not necessarily harmful. Values above aesthetic secondary standards may affect water taste, staining, or plumbing but are not considered safety violations or health risks.
What Happens When This Problem Is Left Untreated for Years, Stated Without Exaggeration
If iron in well water is left untreated over time, households may experience gradual staining of sinks, tubs, and laundry. Iron can cause reddish-brown deposits and may contribute to metallic taste in water. Plumbing components may be prone to buildup, which could reduce flow or require maintenance. However, untreated iron is not a health hazard but an aesthetic and operational concern that some households prefer to manage through treatment.
What 'Detected', 'Median' and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page
In the Harvey County aquifer 112PLSC data, "detected" means iron was measured above the lab's reporting limit in a sample. Of 807 total samples, iron was detected in 503 results and below the limit in 304. The "median" value, 1590 ug/L, represents the middle concentration when all detected iron values are ordered. The "range" from 0.1 to 34,900 ug/L shows variability between wells and depths, reflecting natural differences in groundwater composition.
How to Judge Treatment Capacity Against the Household's or Facility's Daily Demand
Choosing a total well water treatment system requires matching its capacity to your household's daily water usage. The C-Series Total Well Chlorination System, for example, has a documented grain capacity of 32,000. This capacity reflects the system's ability to handle iron and related constituents before maintenance is needed. Households should estimate their water demand and compare it with such capacity metrics to ensure effective treatment without premature saturation.
How Seasonal or Multi-Year Variation Shows in the Record (Dates and Ranges Given)
The USGS sampling in Harvey County's aquifer 112PLSC covers over six years (March 2010–October 2016), revealing a wide span in iron levels but no long-term upward or downward trend reported. Seasonal changes or annual variations can influence iron concentration due to factors like groundwater recharge or well depth. The data underscores the importance of periodic testing since conditions may vary over time rather than remain static.
This water quality record documents iron sampling results from 103 separate wells across Harvey County’s aquifer 112PLSC, sampled between 2010 and 2016. It provides useful insight into regional water chemistry but cannot substitute for testing your individual well water. For tailored treatment based on your test results, consider technologies such as the C-Series Total Well Chlorination System, which ships ready to configure and is designed to address total well water concerns effectively. More details and government data are available at the official USGS water data site.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2016-10-18. 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 112PLSC aquifer (Harvey County): 807 results from 103 wells, median 1590.0 ug/L, range 0.1-34900.0 ug/L; none above any federal threshold