Well water in York County, Pennsylvania
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Testing strongly recommended
private wells tested between 2007 and 2025 in York County had total coliform above the EPA limit (0 MPN/100mL), according to the Penn State water testing lab.
722 private wells tested 2007 to 2025 in state summaries; 2,008 test results across 13 contaminants from at least 227 wells, 1925 to 2026; nitrate has the most at 307. Data refreshed September 16, 2026.
Compiled by Nick at Well Water Nerd from public records. How these pages are built
These are samples homeowners paid to send to the Penn State lab, often because of a suspected problem, so shares above the limit run higher than a random survey would find.
An estimated 163,853 people in York County get their drinking water from a private well, per USGS 2015 county water use. That is about 37% of residents.
Separately, the USGS national arsenic model estimates that 2% of the 163,853 people on private wells in York County draw water above 10 ug/L (the model's range is 1% to 3%), from geology and well depth rather than local tests.
What homeowner tests found
Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab drinking water summaries: private wells tested and reported to the state, 2007 to 2025. Shares are against the level the state applies to each contaminant, named in the last column; several are stricter than EPA.
| Contaminant | Above state level | Wells tested | Median | 95th pct | Highest | State level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total coliform | 722 | 2420 | 0 MPN/100mL | |||
| Lead (first draw) | 211 | 201 | 15 ug/L | |||
| Manganese | 298 | 10 | 3,920 | 50 ug/L | ||
| Nitrate + nitrite as N | 382 | 4.6 | 33.1 | 10 mg/L | ||
| Iron | 298 | 100 | 25,000 | 300 ug/L | ||
| E. coli | 722 | 201 | 0 MPN/100mL | |||
| Chloride | 56 | 12.9 | 320 | 250 mg/L | ||
| Copper | 353 | 0.03 | 7.72 | 1.3 mg/L | ||
| Arsenic | 182 | 13 | 10 ug/L | |||
| Sodium | 42 | 16.2 | 134 |
What individual samples found
Each row summarizes every public sample for that contaminant inside York County. Above limit means above the EPA maximum contaminant level; where EPA has no enforceable limit, the row shows a health guideline or nuisance level instead.
| Contaminant | Above limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest | Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate 1925 to 2026 | 307 | 97% | 5.3 | 121 | 10 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Radium (226 + 228) 1986 to 1988 | 78 | 56% | 0.175 | 30 | 5 pCi/L EPA limit | |
| Fluoride 1960 to 2026 | 250 | 61% | 0 | 1.2 | 4 mg/L EPA limit | |
| Lead 1968 to 2026 | 101 | 97% | 0 | 10.1 | 15 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Arsenic 1972 to 2026 | 72 | 64% | 1 | 10 | 10 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Uranium 1986 to 2025 | 62 | 66% | 0.034 | 7.28 | 30 ug/L EPA limit | |
| Copper 1968 to 2026 | 48 | 88% | 0.013 | 0.2 | 1.3 mg/L EPA limit | |
| E. coli 1994 to 2021 | 15 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 MPN/100mL EPA limit | |
| Chloride 1925 to 2026 | no limit | 261 | 100% | 8 | 9,800 | 250 mg/L nuisance level |
| Sodium 1925 to 2026 | no limit | 256 | 100% | 6 | 8,000 | 20 mg/L health guideline |
| Iron 1925 to 2026 | no limit | 248 | 93% | 70 | 46,000 | 300 ug/L nuisance level |
| Manganese 1960 to 2026 | no limit | 244 | 89% | 20 | 950 | 300 ug/L health guideline |
| Radon 1986 to 2021 | no limit | 66 | 100% | 2,115 | 28,500 | 2,000 pCi/L health guideline |
Over time
Share of samples above the limit by period. A cell needs ten samples to show; a comparison needs twenty in each period. Later periods sample fewer wells, and often the ones already known to have a problem.
| Contaminant | before 2000 | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 29%263 samples | n/a | 50%14 samples | 8%26 samples |
| Fluoride | 0%238 samples | n/a | n/a | 0%11 samples |
| Lead | 0%89 samples | n/a | n/a | 0%11 samples |
| Arsenic | 0%55 samples | n/a | n/a | 0%16 samples |
| Copper | 0%36 samples | n/a | n/a | 0%11 samples |
Nitrate above the limit in York County fell from 29% of 263 samples before 2000 to 8% of 26 in the 2020s.
Closer than the county
See the sampled wells near your address
The same records, drawn around one point: which wells within a few miles were sampled and what they found, how deep the wells next to you were drilled, and any leaking tank or cleanup site within a mile.
Check my addressWhat this means
Among homeowners in York County who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were total coliform (46% of 722 wells), lead (19% of 211 wells), and nitrate (11% of 382 wells). These are ordinary wells tested by their owners, so the shares are the best available picture of a typical well here, with one caveat: people test more often when they suspect a problem.
Manganese exceeds the state's advisory level in a sizable share of wells; this is mostly a taste, staining or diet issue rather than a toxicity one.
What to test for in York County
- 1Total coliform46% of 722 local wells tested were above the EPA limit.
- 2Nitrate28% of 307 local samples were above the limit.
- 3Lead19% of 211 local wells tested were above the EPA limit.
- 4Radium (226 + 228)14% of 78 local samples were above the limit.
- 5E. coli8% of 722 local wells tested were above the EPA limit.
- 6Copper<1% of 353 local wells tested were above the EPA limit.
- 7Arsenic<1% of 182 local wells tested were above the EPA limit.
- 8RadonMedian local reading is 2,115 pCi/L.
Test your York County well for total coliform, nitrate and lead
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
Just want bacteria checked first? Tap Score coliform and E. coli test, $99. Coliform and E. coli are the tests every well needs every year.
Want a quick look before paying for a lab? Home well water test strips on Amazon check hardness, iron, pH and nitrate in minutes. They are a screen, not a result: arsenic, bacteria, uranium and PFAS need a certified lab.
Affiliate links: the merchant pays us a commission and the price is the same for you. It does not change what the data above says. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Where to get a well tested in Pennsylvania: certified labs, state programs and prices.
Already have results back? Get your lab report read against the York County numbers, $29. Every line explained, ranked by what matters, with the fix for each.
Wells in York County
16,165 domestic wells in York County are on record with the state. 100% are drilled into bedrock, and the typical well is 200 feet deep (one in ten goes past 400 feet).
In a typical York County well, bedrock starts about 32 feet down, the median yield is 8 gallons per minute, 16% of wells yield under 3 gallons per minute and usually need a storage tank.
Bedrock wells are where arsenic, uranium and radon come from: the water sits in fractures in granite and metamorphic rock and picks up whatever the rock carries. That is why testing for those three matters more here than in a dug or gravel well.
Find your own well's report
The state keeps the driller's report for most wells drilled since 1984. It tells you how deep your well is, where bedrock starts, and how much water it makes, which decides what treatment can work.
- Open PaGWIS (Pennsylvania Geological Survey) and choose Water Well.
- The record lists depth, depth to bedrock, yield and use; drillers have reported new wells to the state since 1966.
Pennsylvania has no private well construction standard and does not require testing, so many older wells have no record at all.
The rock under York County
Early Mesozoic basin aquifers
Sandstone. Sandstone wells draw from pore space in the rock and tend to be dependable. Iron, manganese and hardness are common, and some sandstones carry arsenic or radium, so a first test should include both.
Classification from the USGS Principal Aquifers of the United States (national map, 2003 edition, GIS release 2015), read at the county centroid. A single well can sit in a different unit, especially near a boundary.
Official help in Pennsylvania
Two places to start that are not selling anything: the state program that answers private well questions, and its list of labs certified to run drinking water tests. A certified lab is the difference between a result you can act on and a number.
- Private Wells, PA DEP
- Laboratory Accreditation Program, PA DEP
Treatment that fits the local profile
Total coliform
Inspect and repair the well cap and casing, then shock chlorinate and retest; UV disinfection whole-house; Chlorination system
Lead
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Certified lead-removal carbon filter; Neutralizing filter to raise pH and stop leaching
Nitrate
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Anion exchange; Distillation
E. coli
Shock chlorination and fix the well cap or casing; UV disinfection whole-house; Chlorination system
Manganese
Oxidizing filter (greensand, birm) whole-house; Water softener (low levels); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Radium (226 + 228)
Water softener (cation exchange); Point-of-use reverse osmosis
Systems we would look at first
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 total coliform
Aquasana Rhino Well Water with UV
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $2,871
Whole-house system built for wells: sediment pre-filter, KDF and carbon, and a UV lamp rated to kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. It does not remove arsenic, nitrate, uranium or radon.
For lead
Under-sink reverse osmosis system
under-sink or countertop, about $300
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification listing the contaminant you need removed.
For lead
Acid neutralizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,200
Raises pH so plumbing stops leaching lead and copper.
For lead
Aquasana SmartFlow reverse osmosis
under-sink or countertop, about $225
Certified to NSF/ANSI 58 and 53 to reduce arsenic (96%, pentavalent), fluoride (90%), lead (99%), nitrate, nitrite and PFOA/PFOS at the kitchen tap, with a remineralizer.
For E. coli
UV disinfection system
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $900
Fix the well cap and casing first; UV keeps bacteria from returning.
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.
Free, no obligation
Get on the list for a free in-home water test in York County
No water treatment company serves York County through Well Water Nerd yet. We are signing licensed companies on county by county: they test at your tap for free, walk you through the numbers, and quote treatment only if something needs fixing. Leave your details and you are first in line. Nothing is shared until a company joins for York County, and you get an email naming it first.
Common questions
How deep are wells in York County?
The typical domestic well in York County is 200 feet deep, based on 16,165 wells reported to the state. One in ten is deeper than 400 feet. 100% are drilled into bedrock.
Is there arsenic in well water in York County?
Arsenic was detected in 64% of 72 public well samples in York County, and 0% were above the EPA limit of 10 ug/L. Arsenic has no taste or smell; a lab test is the only way to know your level.
How high is radon in well water in York County?
The median radon level across 66 public samples in York County was 2,115 pCi/L, with a high of 28,500 pCi/L. New Hampshire recommends treatment above 2,000 pCi/L.
How often should I test a private well in York County?
Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.
Towns in York County
72 towns have fewer than 30 public samples and are included in the York County totals above rather than shown separately: Carroll township, Chanceford township, Codorus township, Conewago township, Cross Roads borough, Dallastown borough, Delta borough, Dillsburg borough, Dover borough, Dover township, East Hopewell township, East Manchester township, East Prospect borough, Fairview township, Fawn Grove borough, Fawn township, Felton borough, Franklintown borough, Franklin township, Glen Rock borough, Goldsboro borough, Hallam borough, Hanover borough, Heidelberg township, Hellam township, Hopewell township, Jackson township, Jacobus borough, Jefferson borough, Lewisberry borough, Loganville borough, Lower Chanceford township, Lower Windsor township, Manchester borough, Manchester township, Manheim township, Monaghan township, Mount Wolf borough, Newberry township, New Freedom borough, New Salem borough, North Codorus township, North Hopewell township, North York borough, Paradise township, Peach Bottom township, Penn township, Railroad borough, Red Lion borough, Seven Valleys borough, Shrewsbury borough, Shrewsbury township, Springettsbury township, Springfield township, Spring Garden township, Spring Grove borough, Stewartstown borough, Warrington township, Washington township, Wellsville borough, West Manchester township, West Manheim township, West York borough, Windsor borough, Windsor township, Winterstown borough, Wrightsville borough, Yoe borough, York, Yorkana borough, York Haven borough, York township.
Counties near York County
Closest first. Groundwater does not stop at a line on a map, so the next county over is a fair second opinion.
Want the numbers themselves? Download the Pennsylvania dataset as CSV, every county and town, with the sources named.
Sources
- USGS Water Quality Portal: 2,008 samples in York County. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
- Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab drinking water summaries: summaries for 10 contaminants in York County, up to 722 wells each. County summaries of private water samples tested by the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory since 2007, published by the College of Agricultural Sciences. Counts are samples, not distinct wells. Shares are against the standard the lab prints: the EPA maximum contaminant level, or the secondary standard for iron, manganese and chloride. Lead is the first-draw result. Medians printed as 0.00 are stored as null because the lab rounds to two decimals. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
- USGS national arsenic model (Ayotte 2017): estimated share of 163,853 people on private wells in York County above 10 ug/L of arsenic, from geology, well depth and land use. County estimates of domestic well users with arsenic above 10 ug/L from the USGS national logistic regression model (Ayotte, Medalie and Qi, 2017), with private well population from the USGS 2015 county water-use compilation (Dieter and others, 2018). Retrieved September 15, 2026.
- Pennsylvania Groundwater Information System (PaGWIS) wells: 22,354 well records in York County, 16,165 domestic. Water well records from the Pennsylvania Groundwater Information System, Pennsylvania Geological Survey (DCNR). Only aggregates are shown; owner names and addresses are never stored. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.