Groundwater in Cottonwood County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, lead, nitrate, and chloride. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and treatment important for well owners.
Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the bedrock and soil layers in this region. Arsenic also occurs naturally in the rock. Nitrate, chloride, and sulfate come from both natural sources and agricultural activity on the land above.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with elevated calcium and magnesium, and contains very high iron levels. These minerals concentrate because the rock beneath Cottonwood County naturally releases them as water moves through. Hard water with high iron is common across wells throughout this county.
Wells in Cottonwood County contain arsenic, lead, and manganese at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic harms your kidneys and increases cancer risk over time. Lead damages children's brain development and learning ability. Manganese at high levels can affect the nervous system. Nitrate and chloride also exceed standards and can cause health problems, especially in infants and people with certain conditions. Multiple serious contaminants are present in county groundwater.
The water in this county is extremely hard, which causes white scale buildup inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers. The high iron content leaves orange or brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Very hard water shortens the lifespan of appliances like water heaters and dishwashers. You may also notice metallic or unpleasant tastes in your water.
We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to find out what is actually in your well. Your well may contain higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. Testing is the only way to know exactly what needs treatment. A comprehensive panel runs about $200-400 and can guide you toward solutions like reverse osmosis or other filtration systems.
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 | 23 | 100% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 23 | 91% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 11 | 36% | Low | High | |
| Lead | 11 | 27% | Low | High | |
| Sulfate | 62 | 19% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 52 | 10% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 86 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 46 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 44 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 47 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 46 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 5 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 30 | — | 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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