Renville County's groundwater contains arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, sulfate, and uranium at levels that exceed EPA health standards. These contaminants are present at concerning levels, with iron and hardness being particularly elevated.
These contaminants come from the rock layers beneath the county. Iron, manganese, and sulfate dissolve naturally from the bedrock as water moves through it underground. Arsenic, uranium, and nitrate also occur naturally in the rock, while nitrate can enter from agricultural practices on the land above. Lead may come from old well pipes and fixtures.
Renville County groundwater is very hard and contains elevated iron and sulfate. The bedrock here naturally releases calcium, magnesium, iron, and sulfate as water passes through it, creating this mineral-rich character. These conditions are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Renville County wells commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, sulfate, and uranium. Arsenic and uranium are radioactive elements that increase cancer risk with long-term exposure. Lead damages children's brain development and learning. Nitrate prevents blood from carrying oxygen, which is especially dangerous for babies. Manganese harms brain development at elevated levels.
Wells in this county have very hard water with high iron content. The hardness causes scale buildup inside pipes and water heaters, shortening their lifespan. Iron creates orange or brown stains on fixtures, laundry, and dishes. The water may taste metallic or bitter from the sulfate and other minerals. Hard water reduces how well soap works and requires more of it for cleaning.
We recommend having your well tested with a comprehensive panel since multiple contaminants exceed health standards. 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. A comprehensive test typically costs between $200 and $400. Treatment options like water softeners and reverse osmosis systems can address these concerns once you know your specific water chemistry.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 128 | 91% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 38 | 87% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 130 | 36% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 102 | 28% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 151 | 11% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 102 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 90 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 138 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 128 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 127 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 22 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| pH | 43 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 128 | — | 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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