Groundwater in Mille Lacs County contains manganese, iron, and PFOS, along with chloride, nitrate, and PFOA at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminant levels are serious enough to warrant immediate testing and attention.
Manganese and iron come naturally from the rock layers beneath the county. Nitrate and chloride enter the groundwater from fertilizer use and road salt spreading on the land above. PFOS and PFOA are human-made chemicals that have contaminated some wells through industrial or military activities and improper disposal.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below, combined with a high iron content. These minerals accumulate as water slowly moves through the bedrock over years. Both the hardness and elevated iron are common across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Mille Lacs County commonly exceed EPA health standards for chloride, iron, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, PFOA, and PFOS. Chloride at elevated levels can harm people with certain heart and kidney conditions. Iron and manganese in drinking water can cause health problems over time, especially for young children. Nitrate and nitrite are dangerous for babies under six months old. PFOA and PFOS are chemicals linked to serious health effects including kidney problems and cancer risk.
The very hard water in county wells creates visible staining from iron on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in your water. Hard water causes scale buildup inside pipes, water heaters, and appliances like dishwashers, which shortens their lifespan. These mineral deposits make it harder to get soap to lather and can leave residue on your skin and hair.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel because multiple contaminants exceed health standards in this county. Every well is different, and your water could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so proper treatment can be installed. A comprehensive panel typically costs between $200 and $400 and can identify which contaminants need removal through filtration, softening, or other treatment 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 62 | 66% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 62% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Iron | 62 | 47% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 14 | 29% | Low | High | |
| Chloride | 105 | 4% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Nitrite | 47 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 66 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Arsenic | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 47 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Lead | 30 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sulfate | 87 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Sodium | 59 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 54 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 33 | — | 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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