Groundwater in Chippewa County contains arsenic, iron, lead, manganese, sulfate, and PFOA that well owners should know about. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards and warrant attention.
These contaminants come from the rock underneath the county. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the local bedrock where groundwater sits without much oxygen. Arsenic also comes from the rock itself in certain areas. Sulfate builds up in the water as it moves through the ground. Lead and PFOA can enter from human sources like old pipes and industrial or firefighting activities.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, with elevated iron, manganese, and sulfate driving its character. The bedrock here naturally releases these minerals into water that percolates down from the surface. These mineral concentrations are common across many wells throughout the county.
Wells in Chippewa County have been found to exceed EPA health standards for arsenic, lead, and PFOA, which are chemicals that can build up in your body over time and cause serious health problems including cancer and kidney damage. Manganese in county well water can harm your brain and nervous system, especially in children. Iron and sulfate, while not health hazards at the levels found here, still affect water quality in ways you should know about.
The very hard water in this county's wells causes stubborn staining on fixtures and dishes, leaves crusty buildup in pipes, and makes soap work poorly. High iron content creates rust-colored stains on clothing and surfaces. Sulfate gives water a bitter or musty taste and smell. This extreme hardness can wear out water heaters and dishwashers faster than normal.
Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well, since every well is different and yours could have higher or lower levels than the county average. We recommend a comprehensive water panel to check for metals, minerals, bacteria, and chemicals, which typically costs $200 to $400. Once you know what you're dealing with, treatment options like water softening, reverse osmosis filters, or activated carbon can address your specific problems.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | 21 | 90% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 21 | 67% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 23 | 57% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 2 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Lead | 2 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 8 | 12% | Low | Moderate ⓘ | |
| Nitrate | 23 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Chloride | 31 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 21 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 17 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 3 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 9 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 21 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 9 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 3 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 6 | — | Low | 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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