Redwood County's groundwater contains arsenic, chloride, fluoride, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Iron and manganese are the top contaminants detected, and sulfate reaches very high concentrations alongside very hard water conditions.
These contaminants come from two sources. The underlying rock naturally releases iron, manganese, and sulfate as water moves through it over time. Nitrate, arsenic, chloride, and fluoride enter from human activities like agriculture and past land use practices that have seeped into the water supply.
Redwood County's groundwater is very hard and very high in iron and sulfate, the minerals that drive its character. Iron and sulfate dissolve naturally from the county's rock as water passes through it underground. Sulfate is especially abundant in this area's geology. These characteristics show up in most wells across the county, though individual wells vary in how much of each mineral they contain.
Wells in Redwood County commonly contain arsenic, chloride, fluoride, lead, and nitrate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk. Lead harms brain development in children and can affect the nervous system in adults. Fluoride in excess amounts can damage tooth enamel. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can interfere with oxygen in the blood. Chloride at high levels can affect people with certain health conditions.
The county's water also contains very high levels of iron and sulfate, along with extremely hard minerals. Iron stains fixtures, laundry, and skin orange or brown and leaves a metallic taste. Sulfate can give water a bitter taste or rotten egg smell. The extremely hard water builds up scale inside pipes and appliances, shortening the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. You may also notice that soap does not lather well and your skin and hair feel sticky.
Testing is recommended for your well. Every well is different, and your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know what is actually in your water so it can be properly treated. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or ion exchange can address multiple contaminants at once.
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 | 213 | 67% | High | High | |
| Iron | 221 | 64% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 248 | 61% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 142 | 29% | High | High | |
| Chloride | 271 | 7% | High | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 140 | 6% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 142 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 206 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 88 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 79 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 4 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 104 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 221 | — | 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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