Sherburne County's groundwater contains manganese, iron, nitrate, arsenic, chloride, lead, nitrite, and PFOA and PFOS. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention for your household.
These contaminants come from two different sources. Iron and manganese occur naturally in the rock and soil; groundwater dissolves them as it moves underground. Nitrate, arsenic, lead, and the PFOA and PFOS chemicals enter from human activities like agriculture, old plumbing, and industrial or firefighting operations in the area.
The water in this county is very hard, driven by high calcium and magnesium from the local rock. Very hard water is found across wells throughout Sherburne County. Iron is also present at moderate levels, adding another mineral characteristic to the groundwater in this area.
Sherburne County well water commonly exceeds EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, nitrate, nitrite, and PFOA and PFOS chemicals. Arsenic and lead can increase cancer risk and harm brain development. Nitrite interferes with how blood carries oxygen through your body. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that accumulate in your body over time and have been linked to serious health effects.
Wells in this county have very hard water, which leaves white, chalky buildup on faucets and inside pipes. The moderate iron content causes reddish or orange staining on sinks, toilets, and laundry. You may notice a metallic taste in your water. Very hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers by years.
We recommend testing your well with a comprehensive metals and minerals panel because multiple analytes exceed standards in county wells. Every well is different, and yours may have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive panel typically costs $200-400 and can guide you toward options like water softeners, iron filters, or carbon filters depending on your results.
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 | 253 | 39% | High | High | |
| Iron | 351 | 32% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 309 | 20% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 39 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 237 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 427 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Lead | 235 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 284 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 316 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 32 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Sulfate | 413 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 176 | 0% | High | Low | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 40 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Hardness | 188 | — | High | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 32 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 345 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 346 | — | 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.
Loading recent water news…