Beltrami County's groundwater contains arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, and human-made chemicals called PFHXS and PFOA that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are serious enough to require your attention.
The rock beneath this county naturally releases metals like arsenic, iron, and manganese as water moves slowly through it over time. Human-made chemicals like PFHXS and PFOA come from industrial use and land disposal. Chloride and lead can enter from road salt, old plumbing, or natural sources in the rock.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below. The moderate iron in the water adds to this mineral content. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Beltrami County wells commonly contain arsenic, lead, manganese, chloride, and PFAS chemicals (PFOA, PFOS, PFHXS) at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk. Lead harms children's brain development and learning ability. Manganese affects the nervous system. PFAS chemicals stay in your body for years and have been linked to health problems including liver damage and immune system effects.
Beltrami County has very hard water, which causes scale buildup inside pipes and reduces water pressure over time. Hard water also shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances. The moderate iron levels in many county wells create rust stains on fixtures and laundry. You may notice a metallic taste in the water.
Your well is unique, and testing is the only way to know what is actually in yours. We recommend a comprehensive metals and chemicals panel since multiple contaminants exceed health standards; this typically costs $200-400. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can address many of these concerns. Contact your county or a certified lab to arrange testing.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 14 | 43% | Low | High | |
| Manganese | 314 | 31% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 39 | 26% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 351 | 25% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 32 | 19% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 286 | 9% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 374 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 296 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Radon | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 370 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 211 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 50 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Uranium | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Nitrate | 78 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 27 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 26 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 10 | — | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 151 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 372 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 2770 | — | High | 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.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
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.
Loading recent water news…