Groundwater in Beltrami County contains arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, and PFAS chemicals that well owners should be aware of. Multiple contaminants in your county exceed EPA health standards, which means testing your well is important.
These contaminants come from different sources in the local rock and soil. Iron and manganese occur naturally in the underground rock layers here. Arsenic and lead can leach from rock or enter through old wells and surface contamination. Chloride and PFAS chemicals often come from road salt, industrial use, or past disposal practices on the land above.
Groundwater in Beltrami County is hard, driven by calcium and magnesium from the rock below. Hard water is common in wells across this county, reflecting the mineral composition of the underground layers that supply your drinking water.
Wells in Beltrami County have been found to contain arsenic, lead, and a group of chemicals called PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that can damage your kidneys, nerves, and bones over time, and both are especially harmful to children. PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS are industrial chemicals that build up in your body and can affect your liver, immune system, and thyroid. Manganese in county wells also exceeds safe levels and can harm your brain and nervous system with long-term exposure.
Hard water is common in Beltrami County wells, which causes scale buildup on pipes and fixtures and leaves spots on dishes and glassware. The iron in these wells stains sinks, toilets, and laundry, and can give water a metallic taste. Hard water also wears out water heaters and dishwashers faster than normal.
We recommend testing your well right away because every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is typical in the county. A comprehensive metals and PFOA/PFOS panel costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know exactly what you are drinking. Once you know your results, you can install the right treatment system, such as a reverse osmosis filter for metals or an activated carbon system for PFOA and PFOS.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 69 | 60% | Moderate | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 12 | 50% | Low | High | |
| Iron | 79 | 41% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 35 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 48 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 67 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 47 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 44 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 8 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Radon | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 61 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 44 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 8 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 20 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 71 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| pH | 23 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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