Meade County, SD
These figures come from wells tested in Meade County, SD, not from any one well.
- Iron is common in wells in Meade County, SD (1 of 10 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Manganese is common in wells in Meade County, SD (2 of 10 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Sulfate is common in wells in Meade County, SD (188 of 347 tested wells were over that level), so it's worth testing for.
- Wells in Meade County, SD are typically very hard (339 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. South 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 | 10% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 1 of 10 |
| Median | 0.005925 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1927–2021 |
| Wells | 10 |
| Test results | 438 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (319) |
Manganese Recent
| Level it's compared with | 0.05 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 20% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 2 of 10 |
| Median | 0.001455 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1956–2021 |
| Wells | 10 |
| Test results | 407 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (314) |
Hardness Recent
| Level it's compared with | none; hardness is shown in bands |
|---|---|
| Share of wells very hard | 71% |
| Median | 286 mg/L as CaCO₃ |
| Years sampled | 1923–2021 |
| Wells | 339 |
| Test results | 467 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (339) |
Sulfate Recent
| Level it's compared with | 250 mg/L |
|---|---|
| Share of wells over the level | 54% |
| Wells over the level / wells judged | 188 of 347 |
| Median | 298 mg/L |
| Years sampled | 1923–2021 |
| Wells | 347 |
| Test results | 476 |
| Wells left out | 0 |
| Sources | USGS (347) |