Groundwater in Crow Wing County contains arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, pfoa, and pfos at concentrations that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are serious enough that well owners should test their water and consider treatment.
The bedrock and soil in this county naturally release iron and manganese into groundwater as water moves through the rock layers. Arsenic and lead also occur naturally in the local geology. Nitrate comes from agricultural practices and septic systems. Pfoa and pfos are human-made chemicals from industrial sites, airports, or firefighting activities that have entered groundwater in some areas.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the carbonate minerals in the local rock. Iron levels are also high, adding to the mineral content of the water. These characteristics are common across many wells in the county, though individual wells vary in how much contamination they contain.
Crow Wing County wells commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, nitrate, chloride, manganese, iron, PFOA, and PFOS. Arsenic and lead build up in your body over time and damage organs and the nervous system. Nitrate is especially harmful to infants and can cause serious illness. PFOA and PFOS are human-made chemicals that stay in your body indefinitely and have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and immune problems. Manganese at high levels can affect the brain and nervous system, particularly in children.
County wells have hard water that leaves mineral deposits on fixtures and inside pipes. You may see orange or brown staining from iron on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Hard water reduces how well soap works and can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. The water may taste metallic or have an earthy smell from the minerals present.
Your well is unique and may have much higher or lower contamination than what is common here. Only testing reveals what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel that checks for all the concerning contaminants--this typically costs $200 to $400. Water softeners, carbon filters, and reverse osmosis systems can address different contaminants depending on your test 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 569 | 43% | High | High | |
| Iron | 583 | 32% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 96 | 16% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 75 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 204 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 497 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 598 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 531 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 286 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 116 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Radon | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 583 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 91 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 71 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 66 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sodium | 575 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 67 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 10 | — | Low | Low | |
| Hardness | 37 | — | 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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