Groundwater in Todd County contains arsenic, lead, nitrate, chloride, iron, manganese, and PFOA/PFOS chemicals. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making water testing essential for every well owner.
The rock beneath Todd County naturally releases arsenic, iron, and manganese as groundwater flows through it. Nitrate and chloride come from agricultural practices and road salt spreading across the landscape. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that have contaminated groundwater from nearby sources or past disposal practices.
Groundwater in Todd County is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rock. At the same time, iron concentrations are very high, adding to the mineral load in the water. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Groundwater in Todd County commonly contains arsenic, lead, nitrate, and PFOA and PFOS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic and lead build up in your body over time and can damage your kidneys, nervous system, and bones. Lead is especially harmful to children's brain development. Nitrate can interfere with oxygen transport in blood, particularly in infants. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals linked to liver damage, thyroid disease, and immune system problems.
The very hard water in county wells creates significant everyday challenges. You will see rust stains on fixtures, laundry, and skin from the high iron content. Scale builds up inside pipes and appliances, which can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Hard water makes soap work poorly and leaves a film on skin and hair. Some people notice a metallic taste in their water from the iron and manganese.
Your well is unique and may have higher or lower levels than what is common across Todd County. Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your water so you can treat it properly. We recommend a comprehensive metals and minerals panel to check for all these contaminants, which typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can address multiple concerns 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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 150 | 75% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 159 | 73% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 11 | 55% | Low | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 40% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 7 | 29% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Arsenic | 111 | 22% | High | High | |
| Nitrate | 154 | 6% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 120 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 180 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 114 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 107 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 149 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Hardness | 28 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 3 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 50 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 146 | — | 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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