Groundwater in Carlton County contains arsenic, manganese, iron, and also PFOA, PFOS, PFHXS, and radon. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and deserve your attention.
These contaminants come from different sources in the county. Arsenic, manganese, and iron occur naturally in the rock and soil layers where your well draws water. PFOA, PFOS, and PFHXS are human-made chemicals that enter groundwater from industrial sites, airports, or firefighting activities. Radon seeps in from the rock itself as water moves through the ground.
Groundwater in Carlton County is soft with elevated iron as the main mineral characteristic. Iron dissolves from the rock as water filters down underground, and this county's geology releases iron readily into the water supply. Elevated iron levels are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Carlton County contain arsenic, radon, and PFOA and PFOS (forever chemicals) at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic is toxic and builds up in your body over time, raising the risk of cancer and organ damage. Radon is a radioactive gas that increases lung cancer risk when breathed in over years. PFOA and PFOS are chemicals that don't break down in your body and can harm your liver, immune system, and other organs with long-term exposure. Iron and manganese also exceed standards in county wells and pose health risks at elevated levels.
Wells in Carlton County have high iron, which causes orange or brown staining on fixtures, laundry, and dishes. Iron gives water a metallic taste and can make it smell or taste unpleasant. The good news is that hardness in this county is soft, so you won't see scale buildup on pipes and fixtures or experience the shortened appliance lifespans that come with very hard water.
We recommend testing your well right away because arsenic is a priority concern here. Every well is different, and your well's levels could be higher or lower than what's common in the county. A comprehensive panel testing for metals, minerals, bacteria, and chemicals costs around $200 to $400 and is the only way to know what you're actually dealing with. Once you have results, treatment options like activated carbon filters or ion exchange can address the specific problems in your water.
Not sure if your well is affected? Get certified results in 5–7 days.
Test Your Well Water with Tap Score →| Contaminant | Samples ⓘ | % Above MCL ⓘ | Distribution ⓘ | Confidence ⓘ | Risk ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radon | 4 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 50 | 44% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 177 | 40% | High | High | |
| Iron | 289 | 38% | High | High | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 58 | 31% | Moderate | High | |
| Chloride | 276 | 10% | High | Moderate | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 19 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 39 | 5% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Arsenic | 234 | 5% | High | Moderate | |
| Lead | 234 | 3% | High | Low | |
| Fluoride | 214 | 0% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 28 | 0% | Moderate | Safe | |
| Nitrate | 152 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Nitrite | 125 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Sulfate | 271 | 0% | High | Low | |
| Uranium | 1 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 280 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 52 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 21 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Hardness | 48 | — | Moderate | Low |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA limit for public water; used as benchmark for private wells). Distribution shows % of sampled wells in each concentration band. Methodology.
* Microbial contaminants (E. coli, coliform) reflect only samples from the last 10 years.
Data shows potential risk — a certified test confirms whether your water is affected.
Order a Tap Score Test →Population-level CDC data. Not individual risk prediction.
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