Carlton County's groundwater contains radon, PFOS, manganese, arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, and PFHXS. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention from well owners.
These contaminants come from two sources. Radon, manganese, iron, arsenic, and lead dissolve naturally from the mixed rock layers beneath the county. PFOS and related chemicals come from human activities like industrial manufacturing and firefighting foam at airports or military sites.
Groundwater in Carlton County is moderately hard, driven by calcium and magnesium from the rock below. Iron at moderate levels is also present in many wells across the county. These mineral characteristics are common across wells in this area.
Wells in Carlton County commonly contain arsenic, lead, chloride, fluoride, and radioactive radon at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that build up in your body over time and cause serious harm to organs and the nervous system. Lead is especially dangerous for children's development. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when you breathe it in over many years. PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, and PFHXS are industrial chemicals that also exceed health standards in some county wells and can harm your liver, thyroid, and immune system.
Wells in this county tend to be moderately hard with elevated iron. You may notice orange or brown staining on fixtures and laundry, or a metallic taste in your water. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Iron can also clog pipes and reduce water pressure over time.
Your well is unique and may have much higher or much lower contamination than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs around $200 to $400 and will tell you exactly what you are dealing with. Iron removal systems and radon mitigation can address some of these concerns once you have your results.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 4 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 50 | 44% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 177 | 40% | High | High | |
| Iron | 289 | 38% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 58 | 31% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 276 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 19 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 234 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 39 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 234 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 214 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 125 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 271 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 152 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 280 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 52 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 21 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 48 | — | 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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