Morton County, ND
These figures come from wells tested in Morton County, ND, not from any one well.
- Manganese is common in wells in Morton County, ND (2 of 12 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Morton County, ND (160 of 338 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Iron is not common in wells in Morton County, ND (1 of 12 tested wells were over). Only a test tells you about your own well.
- Wells in Morton County, ND are typically soft (338 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)
- sulfate (common in wells here)
- iron
- 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. North Dakota'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 | 8.3% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 1 of 12 |
| Median | 0.04825 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1968–2023 |
| Wells | 12 |
| Test results | 409 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (337) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 17% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 12 |
| Median | 0.005265 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1971–2023 |
| Wells | 12 |
| Test results | 402 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (333) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 36% |
| Median | 56.5 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1968–2023 |
| Wells | 338 |
| Test results | 413 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (338) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 47% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 160 of 338 |
| Median | 240 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1968–2023 |
| Wells | 338 |
| Test results | 412 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (338) |