About Cumberland County’s Aquifer 112ICCC and Water Delivery to Homes
The water serving households in Cumberland County commonly comes from underground aquifers such as 112ICCC. This aquifer is accessed by wells ranging widely in depth, supplying water eventually routed to taps within residences. Understanding the aquifer's nitrate levels involves reviewing government-sourced data rather than relying on individual well profiles, since each well’s conditions can differ materially.
1. What the Measured Nitrite Range Indicates Relative to Federal Standards—and What It Does Not
Government sampling between 2010 and 2017 recorded nitrite concentrations in 11 wells within the 112ICCC aquifer. Out of 98 results, the median was 0.0195 mg/L, with values ranging from 0.001 to 0.248 mg/L. No measured nitrite value exceeded federal health-based thresholds during this period. It is important to understand that detection of nitrite—even at the upper range—does not imply a violation of safety standards or a health risk. Instead, it represents what instruments measured at those specific sampling times and wells within the defined area.
2. The Sample Size and Diversity Behind These Figures—and What a Small Sample Could Mean
The nitrate-related nitrite data reflect 98 samples collected over seven years from 11 wells spaced across Cumberland County’s 112ICCC aquifer. This sampling breadth offers a moderate regional overview but should not be mistaken for comprehensive monitoring of every residential well. Limited well numbers and sampling intervals leave some degree of uncertainty about local variability. Homeowners should recognize that their own well’s water quality requires testing specific to their location and depth to accurately determine nitrate or nitrite presence.
3. Comparing Cumberland County’s Nitrate and Nitrite Data with Neighboring Regions without Overreading
When comparing these results to those from adjacent counties or aquifers, it is crucial to remember that each aquifer’s characteristics, sources of contamination, and sampling programs differ. Similar ranges of nitrite detection in a neighboring aquifer do not imply identical conditions and should not lead to assumptions about an individual household’s water. Instead, such inter-area comparisons help frame general regional trends but not definitive home-level conclusions.
4. How Seasonal and Multi-Year Variations Appear in the Record
The samples collected span from August 2010 through October 2017, covering multiple seasons and years. The range of nitrite values within this timeframe reflects natural and possibly human-influenced fluctuations. Seasonal factors such as rainfall, agricultural activity, and groundwater flow can change solute concentrations over time. Homeowners should consider that nitrate and nitrite levels may vary year to year and season to season, underscoring the value of periodic well water testing rather than a single measurement.
5. Judging Treatment Needs Relative to Household Water Use
Should a homeowner determine through qualified testing that nitrate or nitrite levels require reduction, evaluating treatment capacity against daily household water demand is essential. Systems like the C-Series Nitrate & Nitrite (Well) Filter ship ready to configure and are designed to address these constituents effectively for residential use. Properly matching the system's capacity with typical water consumption ensures reliable treatment performance and longevity.
What Not to Conclude from Area-Wide Nitrate and Nitrite Data
Area-wide nitrate and nitrite data offer valuable context but should not be used to diagnose the water quality in any single home’s well. The absence of federal threshold exceedances in this dataset does not guarantee that an individual’s water is free from elevated nitrate or nitrite. Likewise, detections below reporting limits or within ranges found here do not equate to a safety concern without professional analysis. Homeowners interested in understanding their own water quality should obtain specific laboratory testing focused on nitrate and nitrite concentrations to inform treatment decisions accurately.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2017-10-11. 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 Nitrite in the 112ICCC aquifer (Cumberland County): 98 results from 11 wells, median 0.0195 mg/L, range 0.001-0.248 mg/L; none above any federal threshold