Stearns County, MN
These figures come from wells tested in Stearns County, MN, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Stearns County, MN (24 of 72 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Stearns County, MN (28 of 62 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is not common in wells in Stearns County, MN (5 of 381 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Stearns County, MN are typically very hard (370 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)
- 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 | 33% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 24 of 72 |
| Median | 0.01 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1964–2025 |
| Wells | 72 |
| Test results | 1,335 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | MNPCA_AGW (256), USGS (73), MNDNR_AGW (55) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 45% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 28 of 62 |
| Median | 0.011295 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1964–2025 |
| Wells | 62 |
| Test results | 1,391 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | MNPCA_AGW (246), USGS (73), MNDNR_AGW (55) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 94% |
| Median | 334.129 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1964–2025 |
| Wells | 370 |
| Test results | 1,229 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | MNPCA_AGW (242), USGS (73), MNDNR_AGW (55) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 1.3% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 5 of 381 |
| Median | 11.42 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1964–2025 |
| Wells | 381 |
| Test results | 1,449 |
| Wells left out | 3 |
| Sources | MNPCA_AGW (252), USGS (74), MNDNR_AGW (55) |