Wadena County well water contains arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, and human-made chemicals called PFOS, PFOA, and PFHXS. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and require attention.
These contaminants come from multiple sources in the local geology and land use. Arsenic, iron, and manganese occur naturally in the rock and soil beneath the county and dissolve into groundwater as water moves through them. Nitrate enters from fertilizer and septic systems used on farms and in homes. The human-made chemicals PFOS, PFOA, and PFHXS come from industrial products and firefighting foam that have contaminated groundwater over time.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below, and contains very high iron. The underlying rock naturally releases these minerals as water passes through it. Hard water and elevated iron are widespread across wells in Wadena County.
Wells in Wadena County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, nitrate, and PFOA/PFOS chemicals. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and increases cancer risk. Lead harms brain development in children and damages the nervous system in adults. Manganese affects the brain and nervous system. Nitrate turns into nitrite in your body, which prevents blood from carrying oxygen. PFOA and PFOS are industrial chemicals that damage the liver and immune system.
The water in this county is very hard, which causes white scale buildup on fixtures and inside pipes. Hard water makes soap work poorly and leaves spots on dishes and glassware. The high iron levels stain clothes, fixtures, and laundry with reddish-brown marks. The combination of extreme hardness and elevated iron can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances.
Your well is unique and could have higher or lower contamination than what is common here. 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, which costs around $200-$400. Treatment options like activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange systems can remove different contaminants depending on what your test shows.
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 | 561 | 69% | High | High | |
| Manganese | 242 | 64% | High | High | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 12 | 33% | Low | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 16 | 31% | Moderate | High | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 8 | 25% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 36 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 151 | 3% | High |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Lead | 151 | 2% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 269 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 616 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 212 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 4 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 84 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 6 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 391 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 252 | — | 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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