Groundwater in Renville County contains manganese, iron, arsenic, and several other contaminants that well owners should know about. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards here, including arsenic, iron, manganese, nitrate, uranium, lead, chloride, and sulfate, which means action may be needed for some wells.
These contaminants come from natural sources in the rock layers beneath the county. Iron and manganese dissolve from the minerals in the underground rock as water moves through it. Arsenic, uranium, and other metals are also released naturally from rock and soil. Nitrate and sulfate can come from both natural sources and human activity like farming and septic systems.
Groundwater in Renville County is very hard, driven by high levels of iron, calcium, and magnesium that dissolve from the rock below. The county's rock composition naturally produces elevated hardness and iron content as water sits underground. These characteristics are widespread across wells in the county, though the exact levels vary from one well to another.
Wells in Renville County show elevated levels of arsenic, uranium, lead, nitrate, chloride, and sulfate above EPA health standards. Arsenic and uranium raise cancer risk with long-term exposure. Lead harms children's brain development and learning. Nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and can cause serious illness. Chloride at high levels can affect people with heart or kidney problems.
The very hard water in county wells causes stubborn staining on fixtures and dishes, scale buildup inside pipes and appliances, and leaves soap scum on skin and hair. Hard water shortens the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and washing machines. Iron in the water leaves orange or brown stains on surfaces and can give water a metallic taste.
We recommend getting your well tested with a comprehensive panel that covers all these contaminants, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel runs between $200 and $400. Treatment options range from whole-home filtration systems to point-of-use filters, depending on which contaminants your test finds.
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 | 15 | 79% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 70 | 54% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 46 | 44% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 49 | 23% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 45 | 14% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Uranium | 39 | 3% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 79 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 54 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fluoride | 22 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 23 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 11 | — | — | Low | Low |
| Sodium | 36 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Hardness | 17 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 2 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ |
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.
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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