Groundwater in McLeod County contains manganese, iron, arsenic, chloride, lead, nitrate, nitrite, uranium, and sulfate. Multiple contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making testing and treatment important for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from the rock and soil layers beneath the county. Iron and manganese dissolve naturally from the rocks when groundwater sits underground without oxygen. Arsenic, uranium, and nitrate enter from both natural rock sources and human activity like farming and septic systems. Chloride and sulfate also leach from the surrounding rock over time.
Groundwater in McLeod County is very hard, driven by high iron and very elevated calcium and magnesium from the rock below. The bedrock here naturally releases these minerals as water flows through it over many years. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in McLeod County have been found with arsenic, lead, uranium, nitrate, and nitrite at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic and uranium are cancer risks and can damage kidneys and bones with long-term exposure. Lead harms brain development in children and raises blood pressure in adults. Nitrate and nitrite can prevent oxygen from reaching your blood, which is especially dangerous for babies and pregnant women.
County well water is very hard, which means scale builds up inside pipes and appliances and reduces their lifespan. You may notice staining on fixtures and clothing from the iron content. The water can taste metallic or leave orange or brown deposits in sinks and toilets. This extreme hardness will shorten the life of water heaters, dishwashers, and other appliances.
Testing is the only way to know what is actually in your well. Since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in this county, we recommend a comprehensive panel that checks for metals, minerals, bacteria, and nitrate. A comprehensive test runs $200 to $400. Your well could have higher or lower levels than the county average, so testing is essential before choosing treatment. Water softeners can address hardness, and carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems can remove many contaminants.
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 | 89 | 94% | Moderate | High | |
| Manganese | 86 | 70% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 82 | 54% | Moderate | High | |
| Uranium | 79 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Sulfate | 88 | 1% | Moderate | Low | |
| Chloride | 89 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 88 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Lead | 82 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrate | 84 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Nitrite | 79 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 6 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 88 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| pH | 7 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 6 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| 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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