Groundwater in Menominee County contains iron, manganese, lead, arsenic, chloride, nitrate, and sulfate. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and deserve your attention.
The rock beneath this county naturally releases metals like iron, lead, and arsenic into the groundwater as water moves through it over time. Nitrate and chloride can come from fertilizers, septic systems, and road salt spreading across the land above. Manganese also dissolves from the local rock composition.
Groundwater in this county is hard, driven mainly by calcium and magnesium from the rock below. The mixed composition of local bedrock also contributes moderate levels of iron. These characteristics show up across many wells in the area, though individual wells vary in their exact water quality.
Wells in Menominee County commonly exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, nitrate, and chloride. Arsenic is a poison that can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over many years of drinking. Lead harms children's brain development, learning, and behavior, and it damages adults' kidneys and blood pressure. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies under six months old and can prevent their blood from carrying oxygen properly.
County well water is hard, which leaves white crusty scale on pipes, faucets, and shower heads. You may notice orange-brown staining from iron on sinks and laundry. Hard water can shorten the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers because minerals build up inside them over time. Some people taste a metallic or mineral flavor in their drinking water.
Your well is unique and may 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 between $200 and $400. Treatment options like activated carbon filters, water softeners, or ion exchange systems can address many of these concerns.
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 | 91 | 29% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 70 | 26% | Moderate | High | |
| Lead | 47 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 36 | 3% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 118 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Nitrate | 64 | 2% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 118 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 106 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 64 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Radon | 15 | 0% | Moderate | Low ⓘ | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 86 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 142 | — | High | Low | |
| Sodium | 68 | — | 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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