Groundwater in Roseau County contains iron, manganese, arsenic, lead, nitrate, fluoride, and PFAS chemicals. Multiple contaminants in your county exceed EPA health standards, making testing and treatment important for your household.
The rock layers beneath this county naturally contain iron and manganese that dissolve into groundwater as water moves slowly through them. Arsenic and lead also occur naturally in these Lower Cretaceous rock formations. Nitrate enters from agricultural and septic sources, while PFAS chemicals come from industrial use and contaminated sites. Fluoride occurs naturally in the rock.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high levels of calcium and magnesium released from the rock minerals as water passes through. These minerals concentrate in the water because of the chemistry of the Lower Cretaceous rock layer and how slowly groundwater moves through it. Most wells in Roseau County show this very hard water character.
Wells in Roseau County contain several contaminants that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead are toxic metals that can damage your kidneys, heart, and nervous system, and lead harms children's brain development. Nitrate poses serious risks to infants. Fluoride, manganese, and PFOA and PFOS chemicals also exceed safe levels and can affect your nervous system and organs with long-term exposure.
County well water is very hard, leaving crusty scale buildup in pipes and appliances. Iron causes rust stains on laundry, dishes, and fixtures. Your water heater and dishwasher may wear out faster because of the hardness. You might notice a metallic or salty taste in your water.
Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well so you can treat it properly. Since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in this county, we recommend a comprehensive metals and PFAS panel, which typically costs between $200 and $400. Your well may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can reduce many of these contaminants.
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 | 52 | 77% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 49 | 63% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 15 | 40% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS | 6 | 33% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOA | 22 | 18% | Moderate | High | |
| PFHxS | 7 | 14% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Lead | 15 | 13% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 52 | 8% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Fluoride | 28 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Sulfate | 57 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 56 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFNA | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 57 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 42 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| pH | 42 | — | Moderate | 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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