Brown County, MN
These figures come from wells tested in Brown County, MN, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Brown County, MN (82 of 92 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Brown County, MN (79 of 89 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Brown County, MN (30 of 102 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Wells in Brown County, MN are typically very hard (101 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 | 89% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 82 of 92 |
| Median | 2.28 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1968–2018 |
| Wells | 92 |
| Test results | 117 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (91), MNPCA_AGW (8), USGS (2) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 89% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 79 of 89 |
| Median | 0.153 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1968–2018 |
| Wells | 89 |
| Test results | 106 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (88), MNPCA_AGW (8), USGS (2) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 98% |
| Median | 494.912 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1968–2018 |
| Wells | 101 |
| Test results | 111 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (91), MNPCA_AGW (8), USGS (2) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 29% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 30 of 102 |
| Median | 163.22 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1968–2018 |
| Wells | 102 |
| Test results | 116 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | MNDNR_AGW (91), MNPCA_AGW (9), USGS (2) |