Why Test Your Water in Fauquier County (and What It Means for Your Appliances)

Lots of us are on our own water

• Fauquier County says 84% of residents rely on groundwater, and residents outside the Town of Warrenton rely only on groundwater [1].
• USGS estimated that in 2015 about 31,300 of Fauquier's roughly 68,800 residents (about 45%) supplied their own household water, which mostly means private wells [2].
• "VDH does not test private wells." After a new well's bacteria test, testing is up to the owner [3]. EPA says private well owners are responsible for safe water [4].

What shows up in Fauquier wells

Virginia Cooperative Extension tested 97 Fauquier samples from 2012 to 2017 [5]. These were volunteers, not a random survey:

• Low pH (below 6.5) in 46%. Low pH water is more corrosive and can pull copper and lead out of plumbing [5].
• Total coliform bacteria in 31%, E. coli in 4% [5].
• Lead above 0.015 mg/L in 21% of first-draw samples; copper above 1 mg/L in 12% [5].
• Manganese and iron also made the most-common list [5].

Statewide Virginia Tech studies agree: 41% of 538 wells and springs had total coliform and 10% had E. coli [6], and almost 20% of 2,146 first-draw samples topped EPA's lead action level [7].

On public water? FCWSA reported no E. coli and no violations in 2025, and it lists iron and manganese as issues in its Green Meadows, Marshall and New Baltimore systems [8]. Look up your system's report at fcwsa.org [8].

What hard water, iron and sediment do to appliances

Hardness (calcium and magnesium) leaves scale when heated. USGS says scale can shorten equipment life, raise water-heating costs and clog pipes [9]. Extension says it can lower water heater efficiency [10]. Iron and manganese stain laundry and dishes and build up in pipes, water heaters and softeners, lowering pressure and raising appliance operating costs [11].

A lab study: Battelle ran appliances on softened water and very hard water (26 grains per gallon), sped up to mimic years of use [12]. Gas tank water heaters on hard water fell from 70.4% to 67.4% efficiency over two equivalent years; tankless units fell from 80% to 72% and needed deliming. Hard-water dishwashers and washers had scale on all inside surfaces after 240 cycles; soft-water units were nearly scale-free [12]. Note: this study was funded by the Water Quality Research Foundation, a nonprofit aligned with the Water Quality Association, the water-treatment industry's trade group [12][13]. Its water was harder than many homes have, so read it as a worst case.

What the manufacturers say:

• Dishwashers: Bosch's manual says hard water leaves limescale and can block parts, and you set your water hardness on the dishwasher [14]. Rinse aid helps prevent spots in hard water [15].
• Fridges and ice makers: GE recommends a new filter every six months, or sooner if water or ice flow slows [16]. A clogged filter restricts water to the ice maker [17].
• Washers: inlet screens catch sediment and can be cleaned [18]. Whirlpool says clean the washer monthly, more often with hard water [19].
• Water heaters: Rheem says flush yearly, or every six months with hard water; descale tankless units [20]. EPA WaterSense also recommends a yearly flush [21].

Simple steps

1. Test your water. VDH recommends bacteria and nitrate every year, plus a basic test covering hardness, iron, manganese, pH and lead [3].
   • Extension clinic: Fauquier's 2026 clinic was July 15 at the Extension Office, 24 Pelham Street, Warrenton [22][23]. Kits were $70, with results in at least four weeks [24]. Watch for next year's date [22].
   • Any time: use a state-accredited lab from VDH's list [3].
2. Set your dishwasher's hardness from your results and keep rinse aid filled [14][15].
3. Change the fridge filter on schedule [16].
4. Clean washer inlet screens and flush the water heater [18][20].
5. Consider treatment if results call for it. Extension says hardness under 7 grains per gallon usually doesn't need treatment unless it's causing problems [10]. Match treatment to your results [3].

FAQ

How often should I test? Bacteria and nitrate yearly; a basic test every 5 years if all is well [3].

Does the state test my well? No [3].

Is hard water unsafe? Extension says it isn't a health risk, just a scale and cleaning problem [10].

I'm on FCWSA water. Should I test? FCWSA tests its systems [8], but lead can come from your home's plumbing, so contact FCWSA if you're concerned [8].

Buying a new appliance or moving into a home on a well?

Reach out for appliance advice. My opinion: know your water before you pick a dishwasher, fridge or water heater.

• Phone: (540) 316-0813
• Email: fauquier.diy@gmail.com
• Web: fauquierdiy.com