Groundwater in Yellow Medicine County contains iron, sulfate, arsenic, chloride, and PFOS. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a real concern for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from the rock layers beneath the county. Iron and sulfate dissolve naturally from the rock as groundwater moves through it. Arsenic, chloride, and PFOS can come from both natural rock sources and human activities like agriculture and industrial use that seep into the ground.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by high levels of sulfate and iron from the rock below. The bedrock geology here naturally releases these minerals into the water as it flows underground. Most wells in Yellow Medicine County show these characteristics.
Wells in Yellow Medicine County commonly contain arsenic, chloride, and PFOS at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic builds up in your body over time and can cause skin problems, increased cancer risk, and damage to your heart and kidneys. PFOS is a chemical that stays in your body and can affect your immune system and liver. Chloride at high levels can be harmful to people with heart disease or high blood pressure.
The water in this county is very hard, which means you will likely see white scale buildup on faucets and fixtures and inside pipes and appliances. Hard water makes it difficult to get soap to lather and can leave spots on dishes and shower doors. The high iron and sulfate levels create staining on sinks and toilets and can give water a rotten egg smell or metallic taste. Water this hard can shorten the lifespan of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances.
We recommend testing your well water right away because every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. A comprehensive water test that checks for metals, minerals, bacteria, and chemicals costs between $200 and $400 and is the only way to know what is actually in your water. Once you know what you are dealing with, you can install the right treatment system, such as a reverse osmosis filter for arsenic or a water softener for hardness.
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 | 73 | 61% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 58 | 43% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 19 | 21% | Moderate | High | |
| PFOS | 5 | 20% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Chloride | 70 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 25 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFOA | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFNA | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 19 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| PFHxS | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Total Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| E. coli | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Fecal Coliform | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 20 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| pH | 26 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Sodium | 51 | — | — | Moderate | Low |
| Manganese | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 1 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 1 | 0% | 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.
Loading recent water news…