Well owners in Le Sueur County should be aware of pfoa, pfos, iron, arsenic, chloride, lead, and manganese in their groundwater. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These contaminants come from a mix of sources. Iron and manganese occur naturally in the local rock. Arsenic, lead, and chloride can enter groundwater from soil and rock layers or from road salt and agricultural practices. Pfoa and pfos are human-made chemicals that have contaminated groundwater in this region through industrial use and improper disposal.
Groundwater in Le Sueur County is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium dissolved from the rock below. The local geology concentrates these minerals as water moves through the subsurface. Very hard water is the norm across most wells in this county.
Wells in Le Sueur County have been found to contain arsenic, lead, chloride, iron, manganese, and PFOA and PFOS chemicals at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms children's brain development and learning. Manganese affects the nervous system. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to liver damage, thyroid problems, and immune system weakness.
The very hard water in county wells causes significant quality-of-life problems. You will see rust stains on fixtures and laundry from iron buildup. Hard water leaves scale on pipes, faucets, and inside appliances. It makes soap work poorly and leaves film on skin and hair. The hard water in this county can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers by years.
We recommend testing your well right away because every well is different--yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common 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 for metals, minerals, bacteria, and chemicals costs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like activated carbon filters, water softeners, and reverse osmosis systems can address these concerns.
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 ⓘ municipal | 13 | 100% | Low | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 10 | 70% | Low | High | |
| Iron | 80 | 68% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 5 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 31 | 23% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 32 | 6% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 54 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 55 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| Uranium | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 9 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 14 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Sodium | 38 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 19 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| 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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