Groundwater in Cottonwood County contains iron, nitrate, arsenic, lead, chloride, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, with iron and hardness reaching very high levels, making water quality a real concern for well owners.
These contaminants come from two main sources. Iron and hardness come naturally from the rock layers underground in this region. Nitrate, arsenic, and some sulfate enter groundwater from agricultural activity and fertilizer use on the land above, which is common throughout this farming area.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below, combined with very high iron levels. The underlying rock naturally releases these minerals into water as it sits underground. These characteristics are widespread across wells in Cottonwood County.
Wells in Cottonwood County commonly have arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, nitrate, and sulfate at levels above EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that build up in your body over time and can damage your kidneys, nervous system, and bones. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies and can cause serious illness. Chloride at high levels can be harmful to people with certain heart and kidney conditions.
The very hard water in county wells causes real problems at home. You will see orange or brown staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry from iron buildup. Scale builds up inside pipes and on faucets, and your water heater and dishwasher will wear out faster. The water may taste bitter or metallic and smell unpleasant.
We recommend getting your well tested right away since multiple health concerns are common here. Every well is different--your well could have higher or lower levels than what is typical in the county. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel that checks metals and minerals costs between $200 and $400 and will tell you exactly what you are dealing with. Treatment options like reverse osmosis, ion exchange, or activated carbon filters can remove many of these contaminants depending on what testing shows.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 28 | 82% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 30 | 34% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 12 | 33% | Low | High | |
| Lead | 10 | 30% | Low | High | |
| Sulfate | 54 | 22% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 59 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 20 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 21 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 36 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| pH | 15 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 5 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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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