Common well water problems
Choose what you're seeing. Each guide explains the likely cause, what to test for, and the usual fixes.
Failed bacteria test
Coliform or E. coli means something is getting into your well.
Read the guide →Blue-green stains or corrosive water
Low pH water that eats at pipes. Common across Pennsylvania.
Read the guide →Orange or rust-colored stains
Usually iron. Common in Pennsylvania wells and very treatable.
Read the guide →Black or brown stains
Usually manganese, often found together with iron.
Read the guide →Rotten-egg smell
Usually hydrogen sulfide gas, or a reaction in your water heater.
Read the guide →Nitrate
From fertilizer, manure, or septic systems. A concern for infants.
Read the guide →Arsenic
Found naturally in some Pennsylvania rock. No taste or smell.
Read the guide →Hard water and scale
White crust on faucets and a water heater that wears out early.
Read the guide →Some problems, like bacteria and arsenic, have no taste, smell, or color. The only way to know is a lab test. See how to get tested.
These guides are written for wells. See the city water guide for hard water, chlorine taste, and lead.