Groundwater in Ramsey County contains arsenic, chloride, lead, manganese, iron, and PFAS chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, PFHXS, and PFNA. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and treatment important for private well owners.
These contaminants come from two sources. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the rock and soil as water moves underground. Lead, arsenic, and PFAS chemicals enter groundwater from human activity--old pipes, industrial sites, airports, and landfills--and spread through the soil into aquifers over time.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium, and also contains high iron. The rock layers below Ramsey County release these minerals as water passes through, and they accumulate in the underground water. Very hard water with high iron is widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Ramsey County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, chloride, iron, manganese, and a group of industrial chemicals called PFAS (which includes PFOA, PFOS, PFHXS, and PFNA). Arsenic and lead damage the nervous system and organs, especially in children and during pregnancy. Manganese affects brain development. The PFAS chemicals accumulate in your body over time and have been linked to thyroid disease, liver damage, and other serious health effects.
The county's water is extremely hard, which causes white scale buildup on fixtures and inside pipes. Hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. You may notice a metallic or bitter taste, reduced soap effectiveness in showers and laundry, and rust-colored staining from the elevated iron.
We recommend testing your well comprehensively. Every well is different--yours could have much higher or much lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive metals, minerals, and PFAS panel costs roughly $200 to $400 and is the only way to know what actually needs treatment. Water softeners remove hardness, and activated carbon or specialized filters can address some PFAS chemicals.
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 | 176 | 66% | High | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 252 | 52% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 554 | 51% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 345 | 50% | High | High | |
| Iron | 211 | 48% | High | High | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 138 | 30% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 225 | 16% | High | High | |
| Lead | 98 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 95 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Arsenic | 96 | 3% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 112 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 97 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 32 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 184 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 90 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 212 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 524 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 175 | — | High | 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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