Beltrami County, MN
These figures come from wells tested in Beltrami County, MN, not from any one well.
- Manganese is common in wells in Beltrami County, MN (3 of 18 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Iron and sulfate are not common in wells in Beltrami County, MN (4 of 52 and 0 of 97 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Beltrami County, MN are typically very hard (106 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. Minnesota'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 | 7.7% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 4 of 52 |
| Median | < DL mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1965–2025 |
| Wells | 52 |
| Test results | 360 |
| Wells left out | 1 |
| Sources | USGS (91), MNPCA_AGW (36) |
More than half the wells had results below the lab's detection limit, so the median is reported as below that limit.
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 17% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 3 of 18 |
| Median | < DL mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1965–2025 |
| Wells | 18 |
| Test results | 323 |
| Wells left out | 1 |
| Sources | USGS (56), MNPCA_AGW (34) |
More than half the wells had results below the lab's detection limit, so the median is reported as below that limit.
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 90% |
| Median | 261.76 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1965–2025 |
| Wells | 106 |
| Test results | 367 |
| Wells left out | 1 |
| Sources | USGS (72), MNPCA_AGW (34) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 0.0% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 0 of 97 |
| Median | 6.06 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1965–2025 |
| Wells | 97 |
| Test results | 389 |
| Wells left out | 1 |
| Sources | USGS (63), MNPCA_AGW (34) |