Groundwater in Kandiyohi County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, nitrate, chloride, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, with iron reaching very high levels and hardness at very hard concentrations.
These contaminants come from the rock beneath the county. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally into groundwater as water moves through the underground layers. Arsenic also occurs naturally in the rock. Nitrate and chloride can enter from agricultural and residential land use on the surface, seeping down into the water below.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock formation. The same bedrock that releases iron and manganese also contributes to the hardness. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Arsenic, chloride, nitrate, and manganese in wells across this county can pose real health risks. Arsenic exposure over time increases the risk of cancer and other serious illnesses. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can prevent their blood from carrying oxygen properly. Manganese at elevated levels can affect brain development and cause neurological problems. Chloride at high levels may impact people with certain health conditions.
The extremely hard water in Kandiyohi County wells creates visible problems in your home. You will see orange and brown rust stains on fixtures, laundry, and dishes from high iron content. Scale builds up inside pipes and appliances, which can shorten the lifespan of your water heater and dishwasher. Hard water also makes soap less effective for cleaning, leaving clothes stiff and skin feeling dry.
Your well is unique, and testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel since several contaminants exceed EPA standards here, which typically costs $200 to $400. Water softeners and point-of-use filters can address hardness and iron problems once you understand your specific situation.
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 | 143 | 89% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 133 | 75% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 101 | 37% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 19 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 153 | 7% | High | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 177 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 132 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 100 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 132 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 73 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 26 | — | 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.
Loading recent water news…