Government groundwater sampling in Androscoggin County's bedrock aquifer measured iron concentrations ranging from 5.3 to 21.5 micrograms per liter (µg/L) in three wells between 262 and 304 feet deep, with a median of 7.0 µg/L. None of these measurements exceeded federal thresholds for iron. This record summarizes data from a limited set of wells and is not specific to any one household well.
Judging Treatment Capacity Versus Household Water Demand
Determining the right capacity for water treatment depends largely on your household’s daily water use and the levels of iron and hardness it contains. Treatment systems are often rated by grain capacity—in this case, the Fleck Iron + Hard Water System offers a grain capacity of 32,000 grains, sufficient for many residential needs. To size treatment properly, estimate your daily water use and iron/hardness load based on your own water test results, not just area data. This helps ensure the system's capacity matches your consumption and water quality, avoiding oversizing or undersizing.
Ruling Out Problems: From Simple Checks to Professional Tests
Start by checking for visible signs like reddish staining or scaling on fixtures and appliances, which can indicate iron and hardness issues. Next, basic home water test kits can measure hardness and iron levels, though these often provide limited accuracy. For precise data, especially on iron, laboratory water testing is the definitive step. Since government data show typical iron concentrations well below regulatory concern in Androscoggin County’s bedrock aquifer, your own well might differ and requires testing to confirm.
Differences Between Public Systems and Private Well Testing Records
Public water systems undergo routine monitoring and provide community-wide averages and fluctuations in water quality. Private wells, however, are unique to each household’s specific aquifer and depth, often showing variability that public records cannot capture. The government sampling mentioned pertains only to wells in bedrock aquifers and does not represent municipal water systems. Therefore, private well owners should rely on direct testing of their water rather than assuming similarity to regional data.
Understanding Sample Size and What It Means for Your Water
The iron data for Androscoggin County’s bedrock aquifer comes from only three wells sampled in 2011. While this provides a snapshot for the area, such a small sample limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions about all wells in the region. Variability in geology, depth, and other factors means your well could have different iron or hardness levels. Regular testing over time can help track changes and inform treatment needs adequately.
Household Symptoms That May Indicate Iron and Hardness Problems
Common signs of iron in water include reddish or orange staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry, as well as metallic taste. Hardness often causes scale buildup on plumbing fixtures and reduces soap lather. However, absence of these symptoms does not guarantee low iron or hardness levels. Conversely, some symptoms can result from unrelated water issues, so testing remains key to confirm the conditions impacting your household.
In summary, government sampling in Androscoggin County’s bedrock aquifer reveals low iron concentrations by federal standards but is based on limited data from three wells. To size a treatment system effectively, testing your home's water for iron and hardness is essential. The Fleck Iron + Hard Water System ships ready to configure and provides a grain capacity suited to typical household needs when accurate sizing is done based on your own water quality and consumption.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2011-10-13. 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 BEDROCK aquifer (Androscoggin County): 3 results from 3 wells, median 7.0 ug/L, range 5.3-21.5 ug/L; none above any federal threshold
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