Why is our porcelain sink stained brown?
The brown stain is from a large amount of iron in your water. It is closely related to simple rust that you see on metal, which is iron oxide. Your water probably comes from groundwater that filtered through rocks containing iron-rich minerals on its way to the well.
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The quality of our Nation's waters: Water quality in principal aquifers of the United States, 1991-2010
About 130 million people in the United States rely on groundwater for drinking water, and the need for high-quality drinking-water supplies becomes more urgent as our population grows. Although groundwater is a safe, reliable source of drinking water for millions of people nationwide, high concentrations of some chemical constituents can pose...
DeSimone, Leslie A.; McMahon, Peter B.; Rosen, Michael R.
Relation of arsenic, iron, and manganese in ground water to aquifer type, bedrock lithogeochemistry, and land use in the New England coastal basins
In a study of arsenic concentrations in public-supply wells in the New England Coastal Basins, concentrations at or above 0.005 mg/L (milligrams per liter) were detected in more samples of water from wells completed in bedrock (25 percent of all samples) than in water from wells completed in stratified drift (7.5 percent of all samples). Iron and...
Ayotte, Joseph D.; Nielsen, Martha G.; Robinson, Gilpin R.; Moore, Richard B.
The Quality of the Nation’s Groundwater: Progress on a National Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey is near the midpoint of a complex undertaking to survey the quality of the nation’s largest drinking-water resource.
Current website: https://www.usgs.gov/news/quality-nation-s-groundwater-progress-a-nation...
New Study Shows High Potential for Groundwater to be Corrosive in Half of U.S. States
An analysis of more than 20,000 wells nationwide shows 25 states have groundwater that has either high or very high potential to be corrosive...
Potential Corrosivity of Untreated Groundwater in the United States
- Corrosive groundwater, if untreated, can dissolve lead and other metals from pipes.
- National maps have been prepared to identify the occurrence of potentially corrosive groundwater in the U.S.
- These findings have the greatest implication for the 44 million people dependent on domestic wells for drinking water.
A young girl drinks water, which likely originated from groundwater
A young girl drinks water, which likely originated from groundwater sources.
The USGS is near the midpoint of a complex undertaking to survey the quality of the nation’s largest drinking-water resource. From 2012 – 2023, the USGS is assessing groundwater throughout the country through extensive sampling. The latest results from five regional aquifers are now
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Drought, Drinking Water and Natural Environments
This short video is one of a series of four total shorts highlighting USGS water science in California's Delta region. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the hub of the state's water system. Water quality touches on all aspects of life. Teams of U.S. Geological Survey scientists along with their partners monitor water quality and identify sources of pollution and
Iron oxide is present in cracks in rocks
Arsenic can attach to iron oxide (reddish-brown color) is present in cracks in rocks. The pH and redox conditions in an aquifer determine if the arsenic remains attached to the iron oxide or dissolves into the groundwater. Recharged oxygenated irrigation water and groundwater pumping commonly cause the water table to fluctuate, which can release arsenic from basin-fill
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Iron Bog near Rochford, SD
Naturally occuring bog-iron area near Rochford, SD, in the Black Hills of western South Dakota.
Minnesota Banded Iron
A banded iron formation in the Precambrian of Minnesota. Image by James St. John - Jaspilite banded iron formation (Soudan Iron-Formation, Neoarchean, ~2.69 Ga; Stuntz Bay Road outcrop, Soudan Underground State Park, Soudan, Minnesota, USA) 16, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=
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Natural Iron-rich Acidic Spring Flowing into Cement Creek
Photograph showing natural iron-rich acidic spring flowing into Cement Creek near Silverton, Colorado. Similar natural springs contribute water to Cement Creek and other tributaries of the upper Animas River.