Sand, not fractures
In the Coastal Plain, water sits in the pores of sand layers separated by clay. Wells are screened in a chosen aquifer, and the deeper aquifers are generally better protected than shallow ones. Because sand moves, worn pumps here sometimes come up scoured, and sediment filters are common.
Iron, the usual suspect
Coastal Plain water often carries dissolved iron that turns orange once it hits air, stains fixtures and laundry, and can clog aerators and valves. Some aquifers in Maryland’s Coastal Plain, including the Aquia and Piney Point, have also shown arsenic above the drinking water standard in places, so a full lab test is worth doing.
Typical calls
Iron filtration, sediment filters, pump and tank replacements, and pressure problems in south county homes.
Permits and rules
Anne Arundel County’s Department of Health handles well permits and private water supplies. Maryland requires lab water quality testing before settlement on any home sale with a private well, unless the buyer waives it in writing.
140 ftQuestions from Anne Arundel County
Local answers.
Why does my Anne Arundel well water stain everything orange?
Dissolved iron, common in Coastal Plain aquifers, oxidizes when it meets air and leaves orange-brown stains. A test for iron, manganese and pH tells which filter will work.
Should I test for arsenic?
It’s a good idea on the Coastal Plain. Some Maryland aquifers, including the Aquia and Piney Point, have had arsenic above the standard in places. You can’t taste or see it; only a lab test shows it.
Is my sandy well bad for the pump?
Sand is hard on pump impellers and valves. If you see grit in the water, a sediment filter protects fixtures, and the pump setting or well screen may need a look.