⚠ Arsenic detected in 44% of Jackson County wells — USGS Rogue Basin studyGet a free test →
Jackson County Water Report — 2026

Do you know what
you're drinking?

Clean Water.
Starts Here.

USGS researchers found arsenic in 44% of Jackson County wells — with Jacksonville, Grants Pass, and Gold Hill testing above the EPA's legal limit. The EPA sets legal limits, not safe limits. Find out what's really in your water, free.

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Jackson County, OR — well water data
44%
of Jackson County wells tested contain detectable arsenic — USGS Rogue Basin study
32.1
ppb arsenic detected in Jacksonville — over 3x the EPA limit of 10 ppb
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cost to find out exactly what's in your home's water today
⚠ Netflix "The Plastic Detox" — March 2026: Researchers found roughly 240,000 plastic fragments per liter in bottled water. They can enter the bloodstream. See the data →
✓ USGS & EPA-sourced data
✓ EWG verified
✓ No products sold
✓ Free local water test
✓ Updated 2026
The national picture

Legal doesn't mean safe.
Here's what the data shows.

The EPA sets maximum contaminant levels based on what's treatable — not what's safe. The Environmental Working Group uses stricter health-based guidelines. In Jackson County, much of that gap shows up quietly — in private wells that are never tested unless homeowners request it.

44%
of Jackson County wells tested contain detectable arsenic
3
Rogue Valley cities with arsenic above the EPA's 10 ppb limit
$0
EPA legal limit specifically for chromium-6 — a known carcinogen
2031
Year EPA PFAS limits will be enforced nationwide
Arsenic
44% of wells
Jackson County, per USGS Rogue Basin study
No smell. No taste. No color. Linked to bladder, lung, and skin cancer with chronic exposure. Jacksonville (32.1 ppb), Grants Pass (18.1 ppb), and Gold Hill (11.7 ppb) all tested above the EPA's 10 ppb limit.
PFAS "Forever Chemicals"
35 states
public water systems with detectable PFAS nationally
Don't break down in the body or environment. Linked to fertility decline, thyroid disruption, and cancer. Standard filters don't remove them — reverse osmosis does.
Hard Water & Minerals
Common
throughout the Rogue Valley's groundwater
Hard water doesn't just affect taste — it shortens the life of water heaters, pipes, and appliances, and can leave skin and hair dry. Whole-home softening and filtration address this alongside contaminant removal.
Chromium-6
Nationwide
no federal enforceable limit exists
Made famous by Erin Brockovich. A known carcinogen with no established safe level. Proposed EPA limits aren't enforced until at least 2031.
Lead
Aging pipes
in older homes throughout the region
No safe level of lead exists. Gets into water through aging pipes and fixtures — not at the treatment plant. Water can leave the treatment facility clean and still pick up lead before it reaches your tap.
Nitrates
Agricultural
runoff near farming and orchard land
From fertilizer and animal waste. Linked to blue baby syndrome in infants. Particularly relevant for rural Jackson County wells near agricultural operations.
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10 min

Every shower is a dose.

A 10-minute shower exposes your body to contaminants through skin absorption and steam inhalation — not just drinking. A pitcher filter on your kitchen counter protects less than 1% of your household water use. The other 99% — every shower, bath, load of dishes, and brushed tooth — goes unfiltered.

Get a free whole-home water test →
Now on Netflix: "The Plastic Detox" — premiered March 16, 2026
The bottled water lie

Bottled water isn't
the solution.
It's another problem.

240K
Plastic fragments per literA 2024 study published in PNAS found roughly 240,000 plastic fragments per liter of bottled water — particles small enough to cross from the gut into the bloodstream.
93%
Of bottled water samples testedOrb Media reports plastic particles were detected in 93% of bottled water samples studied globally — across major brands and countries.
5g/wk
Estimated microplastic intakeResearchers estimate the average person may ingest up to 5 grams of microplastic per week — roughly the weight of a credit card — much of it from bottled water and packaging.
Your bottled water cost calculator
3
2
$1.50
Annual cost$3,285
10-year total$32,850
You save with filtration$31,050
Skip the Math — Get a Free Test Instead →
Jackson County findings

Where the arsenic
shows up locally.

Based on USGS Rogue Basin groundwater research and Jackson County well testing. Levels vary well-to-well — the only way to know your own water is to test it.

MedfordCounty seat JacksonvilleArsenic: 32.1 ppb Grants PassArsenic: 18.1 ppb Gold HillArsenic: 11.7 ppb Ashland Central Point Eagle Point Rogue River Phoenix / Talent
Arsenic above EPA limit (10 ppb)
Within Rogue Basin study area
  • Jacksonville — 32.1 ppb arsenic. Over 3x the EPA's maximum of 10 ppb, based on USGS regional well sampling.
  • Grants Pass — 18.1 ppb arsenic. Nearly double the EPA limit, in the broader Rogue Basin study area.
  • Gold Hill — 11.7 ppb arsenic. Above the EPA limit, illustrating how levels vary even between nearby communities.
  • Countywide — 44% of wells tested showed detectable arsenic, out of 52 wells sampled across the Rogue Basin (19 with detections).
  • Arsenic has no taste, smell, or color — homeowners on private wells have no way to know without testing.

Sources: U.S. Geological Survey Rogue Basin groundwater quality review; USGS Oregon Water Science Center; EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System; EWG Tap Water Database, Jackson County utilities.

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In the news & research

This isn't new —
it's just finally visible.

Netflix · March 2026

The Plastic Detox

A Netflix documentary following six couples reducing plastic exposure in their homes — bringing microplastics and bottled water concerns into mainstream conversation nationwide.

Watch on Netflix →
Research · USGS

Rogue Basin Groundwater Study

U.S. Geological Survey research summarizing decades of groundwater quality data across the Rogue Basin, including arsenic detections in Jackson County wells.

Oregon Health Authority — Drinking Water →
Local · Southern Oregon

Local Water Quality Reporting

Southern Oregon outlets including the Mail Tribune and Rogue Valley Times have covered regional water quality and well-testing topics for Jackson County residents.

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