Blue Earth County, MN
These figures come from wells tested in Blue Earth County, MN, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Blue Earth County, MN (87 of 100 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Blue Earth County, MN (10 of 13 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Blue Earth County, MN (15 of 139 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Wells in Blue Earth County, MN are typically very hard (139 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:
- iron (common in wells here)
- manganese (common in wells here)
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- hardness
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 | 87% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 87 of 100 |
| Median | 1.86 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1970–2025 |
| Wells | 100 |
| Test results | 276 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (96), MNPCA_AGW (23), USGS (20) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 77% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 10 of 13 |
| Median | 0.236 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1970–2025 |
| Wells | 13 |
| Test results | 196 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNPCA_AGW (23), USGS (20), MNDNR_AGW (9) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 97% |
| Median | 384.718 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1970–2025 |
| Wells | 139 |
| Test results | 267 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (96), MNPCA_AGW (23), USGS (20) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 11% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 15 of 139 |
| Median | 91 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1970–2025 |
| Wells | 139 |
| Test results | 277 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (96), MNPCA_AGW (24), USGS (19) |