Linn County, IA
These figures come from wells tested in Linn County, IA, not from any one well.
- Manganese is common in wells in Linn County, IA (17 of 37 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Iron and sulfate are not common in wells in Linn County, IA (3 of 37 and 2 of 175 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Linn County, IA are typically very hard (180 wells tested).
- Only a test of your own well tells you about your water.
What to test for
Start with the four this site covers:
- manganese (common in wells here)
- iron
- hardness
- sulfate
Most well owners also test for these. We point to the source and don't interpret the results.
- arsenic: occurs naturally in groundwater in many regions. USGS: arsenic and drinking water
- nitrate: common near farmland and septic systems. EPA: private drinking water wells
- total coliform bacteria: the standard yearly well check. EPA: private drinking water wells
- lead and copper: from household plumbing, especially when pH is below 6.5. EPA: lead in drinking water
- PFAS: several states run private-well sampling programs. EPA: PFAS
- a certified lab: states certify labs and some run their own private-well programs. Iowa's certified-lab list (from your state drinking-water program)
The numbers
County figures describe the wells sampled there, not any one well. Exact counts, sample years and sources are below.
Iron Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.3 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 8.1% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 37 |
| Median | 0.0052 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1934–2026 |
| Wells | 37 |
| Test results | 899 |
| Wells left out | 24 |
| Sources | USGS (173), 21IOWA (2), 21IOWA_WQX (2) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 46% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 17 of 37 |
| Median | 0.0368 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1934–2026 |
| Wells | 37 |
| Test results | 896 |
| Wells left out | 24 |
| Sources | USGS (170), 21IOWA (2), 21IOWA_WQX (2) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 96% |
| Median | 273.5 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1910–2026 |
| Wells | 180 |
| Test results | 904 |
| Wells left out | 24 |
| Sources | USGS (176), 21IOWA (2), 21IOWA_WQX (2) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 1.1% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 175 |
| Median | 32 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1910–2026 |
| Wells | 175 |
| Test results | 881 |
| Wells left out | 22 |
| Sources | USGS (173), 21IOWA_WQX (2) |