Your Well Water Has Different Problems. You Need Different Solutions.
City water and well water are not the same. Iron, sulfur, bacteria, and nitrates require specialized treatment — not the same softener your neighbor on city water has. We've been solving Central Ohio well water problems since 1994.
Well water vs. city water — the key differences
The 4 well water problems we see every day
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?
These are the most common well water complaints we hear from Central Ohio homeowners. If you're nodding at even one of these, your well water needs attention.
Orange Stains Everywhere
Toilet bowl rings, sink stains, orange-tinted laundry, rust-colored water. Iron in your well is the culprit — and it only gets worse over time. Most Central Ohio wells test at 2–10 ppm iron, far above the 0.3 ppm threshold where staining begins.
Rotten Egg Smell
That sulfur smell — especially from hot water — is hydrogen sulfide gas produced by bacteria in your aquifer. It makes water undrinkable, accelerates corrosion of fixtures and appliances, and doesn't go away on its own.
Bacteria & Coliform Concerns
Unlike iron or hardness, bacterial contamination is a genuine health risk. E. coli and coliform bacteria enter wells through aging casings, flooding, or proximity to septic systems. Fairfield County sees elevated rates — and many homeowners don't know until they test.
Extreme Hardness
Central Ohio well water is significantly harder than city water — often 20–35+ grains per gallon. That's scale on every appliance, shortened water heater life, soap that won't lather, and dry skin and hair after every shower.
Important: Well water problems don't resolve on their own — iron staining worsens, bacteria can multiply, and untreated hardness shortens appliance life every month. A free test takes 45 minutes and tells you exactly what you're dealing with.
Purpose-built for well water
The Right Treatment for Your Specific Well
There's no one-size-fits-all solution for well water. We test first, then recommend exactly what your water needs — nothing more, nothing less.
Katalox Light Iron Filter
Most Popular for WellsFor iron, manganese & hydrogen sulfide
Our most-installed well water system. Katalox Light media removes dissolved and particulate iron, manganese, and H2S in a single tank — no chemicals, no air injection required. Handles iron up to 15 ppm and eliminates sulfur smell completely.
Learn moreHigh-Capacity Water Softener
Sized for Well WaterFor extreme hardness
Well water requires a larger, more robust softener than city water. Our Westinghouse-branded systems are sized for Central Ohio's 20–35+ gpg hardness levels, with iron-tolerant resin that won't foul from trace iron that gets past the filter.
Learn moreUV Sterilization System
Bacteria EliminationFor bacteria & coliform
UV sterilization is the gold standard for bacterial treatment in private wells. A UV system destroys 99.99% of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa without chemicals — no taste, no odor, no byproducts. Required for any well with confirmed or suspected bacterial contamination.
Learn moreReverse Osmosis Drinking System
Nitrate & PFAS RemovalFor nitrates, PFAS & drinking water quality
For wells in agricultural areas of Pickaway, Fairfield, or Knox counties, nitrates are a real concern — and only RO removes them. Our under-sink RO systems also remove PFAS, arsenic, and any contaminants that get through whole-house treatment.
Learn moreHow it works
From Test to Treatment in 3 Steps
We never recommend a system without testing your water first. Every well is different — your treatment should be too.
Free In-Home Well Water Test
Jerry comes to your home, tests your well water on-site for iron, hardness, pH, sulfur, TDS, and more. Takes about 45 minutes. You get the results in plain English — no upsell pressure, no confusing lab reports.
Custom Treatment Recommendation
Based on your test results, we recommend exactly what your water needs. If you only need an iron filter, that's what we'll tell you. We don't sell systems people don't need — our reputation depends on it.
Professional Installation & Warranty
We install your system, test the water after installation to confirm it's working, and back everything with a 10-year warranty. Ongoing service and salt delivery available for softener customers.
We know your county's water
Central Ohio Well Water by County
Well water chemistry varies significantly by county based on local geology, agricultural activity, and aquifer depth. Here's what we see most often in each area.
Licking County
Iron levels of 3–12 ppm are common. Katalox iron filter + softener combination is the standard solution.
Service area detailsFairfield County
Elevated coliform rates due to agricultural land use. UV sterilization is strongly recommended alongside softening.
Service area detailsKnox County
H2S (rotten egg smell) is more prevalent here than anywhere else in our service area. Katalox handles both.
Service area detailsPickaway County
Agricultural runoff creates nitrate risk. RO drinking system is essential in addition to whole-house softening.
Service area detailsDelaware County
Some of the hardest well water in Central Ohio — 25–35+ gpg. High-capacity softener with iron-tolerant resin required.
Service area detailsUnion County
Rural residential growth area with older wells. Hardness and nitrate testing both recommended before treatment.
Service area detailsFrom Central Ohio well owners
What Well Water Customers Say
"We had orange stains in every toilet and the water smelled like sulfur. Jerry tested our well, installed a Katalox filter, and within a week the stains were gone and the smell was completely eliminated. Wish we'd done this years ago."
Dave & Karen M.
Granville, Licking County
"Our well tested positive for coliform bacteria. Jerry didn't panic us — he explained exactly what it meant, installed a UV system, and retested to confirm it was working. Professional, honest, and thorough."
Sarah T.
Lancaster, Fairfield County
"We moved from Columbus city water to a rural property in Knox County and the water was awful — sulfur smell, orange tint, left scale on everything. Pure Aqua installed a complete system and our water is now better than what we had in the city."
Mike & Jennifer R.
Mount Vernon, Knox County
Well Water Questions We Hear Every Day
How is well water different from city water?
City water is treated at a municipal plant before it reaches your home — chlorinated, pH-adjusted, and tested thousands of times per year. Well water is untreated groundwater. What's in it depends entirely on your local geology, your well's depth and condition, and what's happening in the land around you. That means well water can have iron, sulfur, bacteria, nitrates, and hardness levels that city water simply doesn't have.
How often should I test my well water?
The EPA recommends testing your well at least once a year for bacteria and nitrates, and every few years for a full panel including iron, hardness, pH, manganese, and other contaminants. After any flooding event, nearby construction, or change in taste or smell, test immediately. Our free in-home test covers the most common well water issues.
Can a regular water softener handle well water?
A standard water softener is designed for city water hardness levels — typically 10–20 gpg. Central Ohio well water is often 20–35+ gpg, and frequently contains iron that will foul standard softener resin within months. Well water requires a higher-capacity softener with iron-tolerant resin, and usually an iron filter upstream to protect the softener. We size and configure every system for your specific test results.
Is iron in well water a health risk?
Iron is not a health risk at the levels typically found in Central Ohio wells — the EPA's secondary standard of 0.3 ppm is an aesthetic standard, not a health limit. But iron causes significant property damage: staining on fixtures, toilets, and laundry; fouled appliances; shortened water heater life; and metallic-tasting water. At high levels it also damages softener resin and whole-house filters if not treated upstream.
What does a UV system actually do?
A UV sterilization system exposes water to ultraviolet light as it passes through a chamber. UV light at the right wavelength destroys the DNA of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa — preventing them from reproducing and rendering them harmless. It works without chemicals, adds no taste or odor, and leaves no byproducts. It does not remove iron, hardness, or other contaminants — it's specifically for biological contamination and is typically installed as the final stage after filtration and softening.
Find Out What's Actually in Your Well Water
Most Central Ohio well owners have never had a professional water test. One free visit from Jerry tells you exactly what you're dealing with — and exactly what it will take to fix it.
Free test · No obligation · 30+ years well water experience · Central Ohio owned & operated