Well owners in Otter Tail County need to be aware of arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, pfoa, pfhxs, pfos, and sulfate in their groundwater. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and treatment important for this county.
These contaminants come from two sources working together. The bedrock naturally contains arsenic, iron, and manganese that dissolve into water as it moves through the rock. Agricultural practices and road salt add nitrate, nitrite, chloride, and sulfate from the land surface above.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium released from the rock below. Iron is also present at very high levels, coming from the natural composition of the local bedrock. These characteristics appear across most wells in the county, though individual wells vary in their exact levels.
Otter Tail County wells contain several contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that build up in your body over time and damage the brain and nervous system, especially in children. Nitrate and nitrite prevent blood from carrying oxygen properly and are dangerous for infants. Manganese affects brain development and nervous system function. PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS are industrial chemicals linked to serious health problems. Chloride also reaches unhealthy levels in some county wells.
County well water is very hard, which means scale builds up inside pipes, water heaters, and dishwashers and can shorten their lifespan. The high iron content leaves rust-colored stains on sinks, laundry, and fixtures. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste in the water. These problems make daily use frustrating and expensive over time.
We recommend getting your well water tested with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel, since your well 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 typically costs $200 to $400. Treatment options include reverse osmosis systems, activated carbon filters, or water softening systems depending on your 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 | 581 | 59% | High | High | |
| Iron | 717 | 51% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 33 | 36% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 469 | 29% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 285 | 25% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 28 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 19 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Sulfate | 623 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 313 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 368 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 929 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 512 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Radon | 23 | 0% | Moderate | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 33 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 13 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 586 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 529 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 21 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 229 | — | High | Low | |
| E. coli | 1* | 0% | Low | 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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