Manganese in Massachusetts well water
In Massachusetts, manganese was detected in 92% of 3,272 tested private well samples.
Manganese stains fixtures and laundry above 50 ug/L. EPA's health advisory is 300 ug/L; infants are the most sensitive, and newer research links elevated manganese to neurological effects in children. It is one of the most common private well problems in New England.
Check your manganese number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Massachusetts well for manganese
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
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Systems that remove manganese
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For manganese
Iron and manganese oxidizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,800
Air-injection or greensand media; fixes staining at the source.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for manganese in Massachusetts: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit; counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | no limit | 54 | 100% | 80 | 420 ug/L |
| Plymouth | no limit | 231 | 99% | 32 | 28,200 ug/L |
| Worcester | no limit | 308 | 98% | 95.4 | 54,000 ug/L |
| Hampden | no limit | 84 | 96% | 20 | 942 ug/L |
| Essex | no limit | 191 | 96% | 60 | 3,900 ug/L |
| Norfolk | no limit | 98 | 96% | 75 | 9,400 ug/L |
| Berkshire | no limit | 119 | 96% | 20 | 2,100 ug/L |
| Franklin | no limit | 53 | 92% | 10 | 2,000 ug/L |
| Middlesex | no limit | 271 | 91% | 46.9 | 10,000 ug/L |
| Barnstable | no limit | 1,804 | 90% | 46.6 | 14,100 ug/L |
- Wareham, Plymouth County100% detected of 42
- Wenham, Essex County100% detected of 50
- Bolton, Worcester County100% detected of 30
- Hubbardston, Worcester County100% detected of 36
- Plymouth, Plymouth County100% detected of 54
- Sturbridge, Worcester County98% detected of 56
- Wayland, Middlesex County97% detected of 30
- Charlton, Worcester County95% detected of 41
- Orleans, Barnstable County93% detected of 135
- Falmouth, Barnstable County92% detected of 1,179
- Andover, Essex County90% detected of 41
- Truro, Barnstable County90% detected of 58
- Chelmsford, Middlesex County88% detected of 76
- Sandwich, Barnstable County83% detected of 291
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. manganese counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.