Well owners in Lake of the Woods County should be aware of arsenic, iron, lead, PFOA, PFHXS, and sulfate in their groundwater. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, so testing your well is important.
These contaminants come from a mix of sources in the local rock and landscape. Iron and arsenic occur naturally in the rock beneath the county. PFOA and PFHXS are human-made chemicals that have entered groundwater through industrial use and disposal over time. Sulfate also appears naturally in some rock layers in this region.
Groundwater in this county is moderately hard and notably high in iron. The iron comes from minerals in the rock that dissolve as water moves underground. These characteristics are common across many wells in Lake of the Woods County.
Wells in Lake of the Woods County can contain arsenic, lead, iron, and PFOA and PFHXS (chemicals from industrial products and firefighting foam). Arsenic and lead are serious health concerns because they build up in your body over time and can damage your kidneys, bones, and nervous system. PFOA and PFHXS are human-made chemicals that stay in your body and may affect your immune system and liver. Iron itself is not a health risk at the levels found in county wells, but it comes with other concerns described below.
The moderately hard water in this county can leave reddish or brown stains on sinks, toilets, and laundry from iron. You might notice a metallic taste in your water or see rust-colored buildup on fixtures. Hard water can shorten the life of water heaters and dishwashers over time because minerals stick to the inside of these appliances.
We recommend that every well owner get their water tested because every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs $200 to $400 and would check for arsenic, lead, iron, and the PFOA and PFHXS chemicals. Water softeners, iron filters, or activated carbon systems can treat these concerns 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 7 | 100% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 51 | 58% | Moderate | High | |
| PFHxS | 4 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Lead | 53 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 24 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Sulfate | 48 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrite | 10 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 6 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 36 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS | 2 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 11 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Sodium | 47 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Chloride | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 36 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | 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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