Canada's Well Water Guide
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Arsenic and uranium

Is there arsenic in my well water?

Fractured crystalline and shield bedrock releases arsenic and uranium naturally. Both are colourless, tasteless and health-based, not cosmetic.

How you notice it

  • No visible symptoms at all — only a lab test finds it
  • Neighbouring wells with past exceedances
  • Granite, slate or Precambrian shield bedrock

Why it happens

Arsenic-bearing minerals in fractured bedrock dissolve into groundwater. Concentrations vary sharply between wells only a few hundred metres apart.

The fix

  1. Bedrock-specific lab panel: arsenic, uranium, radionuclides
  2. Whole-home iron-oxide adsorption media, sized on the result
  3. Point-of-use cartridge if only drinking water needs protection
  4. Retest annually — levels drift with water table changes

Equipment that solves it

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US Water Systems Whole-Home Arsenic & Heavy Metal Adsorption Filter
Arsenic & Uranium Reduction$4,134 USD

US Water Systems Whole-Home Arsenic & Heavy Metal Adsorption Filter

ResinTech ASM-10-HP selective anion exchange media for fractured bedrock wells with arsenic above guidelines.

$220 USD/yr consumables · premium

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US Water Systems Point-of-Use Arsenic Reduction Cartridge
Arsenic & Uranium Reduction$90 USD

US Water Systems Point-of-Use Arsenic Reduction Cartridge

Under-sink cartridge with selective arsenic reduction media that protects drinking and cooking water only.

$90 USD/yr consumables · budget

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Crystal Quest Whole House Arsenic Removal Filter & Softener
Arsenic & Uranium Reduction$2,389 USD

Crystal Quest Whole House Arsenic Removal Filter & Softener

Specialty adsorption media for bedrock and Canadian Shield wells exceeding arsenic guidelines, integrated with water softening to prevent hardness scaling.

$240 USD/yr consumables · premium

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Frequently asked questions

Is there arsenic in my well water?

Fractured crystalline and shield bedrock releases arsenic and uranium naturally. Both are colourless, tasteless and health-based, not cosmetic. Arsenic-bearing minerals in fractured bedrock dissolve into groundwater. Concentrations vary sharply between wells only a few hundred metres apart.

How do I know if I have arsenic and uranium?

Common signs include: No visible symptoms at all — only a lab test finds it; Neighbouring wells with past exceedances; Granite, slate or Precambrian shield bedrock. Confirm with an accredited lab before buying treatment gear.

What is the fix for arsenic and uranium?

Bedrock-specific lab panel: arsenic, uranium, radionuclides Whole-home iron-oxide adsorption media, sized on the result Point-of-use cartridge if only drinking water needs protection Retest annually — levels drift with water table changes

Should I treat the whole house or just drinking water?

Staining, scale, and bacteria risks are usually whole-home issues. Taste, dissolved solids, and some metals can be finished at a kitchen RO tap after the main train is correct.

How do I match this problem to my municipality?

Open the provincial directory and the municipality page if one is published. This guide does not list places from a hardness or depth model.

Related tools

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The checklist matches symptoms you report to catalog equipment. It does not estimate hardness, depth, or cost.

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