Well owners in Blue Earth County should be aware that manganese, iron, arsenic, lead, nitrate, nitrite, and PFOS are present in the county's groundwater. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and awareness important for private well owners.
These contaminants come from two sources. Iron and manganese occur naturally as water moves through the rock layers beneath the county. Arsenic, lead, nitrate, nitrite, and PFOS enter groundwater from a combination of natural rock dissolution and human activities like agriculture, industrial use, and past disposal practices.
Groundwater in Blue Earth County is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the underlying rock, and also contains very high iron levels. The rock beneath the county naturally releases these minerals as water flows through it over time. Most wells across the county show these mineral-rich characteristics.
Wells in Blue Earth County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, and PFOA and PFOS chemicals. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that can damage kidneys and harm children's brain development. Nitrate and nitrite are especially dangerous for infants and can interfere with how blood carries oxygen. Manganese affects the nervous system, and PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that build up in your body over time.
The water in this county is very hard, which causes orange and brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Scale builds up inside pipes and water heaters, reducing water pressure and shortening the lifespan of appliances like dishwashers and water heaters. You may notice a metallic or sulfur taste in the water. Hard water also makes soap work poorly and leaves spots on dishes.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out exactly what is in your water. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what needs treatment. Depending on results, treatment might include water softeners for hardness, reverse osmosis filters for metals, or activated carbon filters for chemicals.
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 | 193 | 91% | High | High | |
| Iron | 277 | 53% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 23 | 30% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 20 | 20% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 265 | 15% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 354 | 13% | High | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 281 | 13% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 265 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 328 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 293 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 88 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 177 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 12 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Sodium | 275 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 161 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 20 | — | 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.
* 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.
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