Groundwater in Nobles County contains manganese, sulfate, arsenic, chloride, and lead. Several of these contaminants exceed EPA health standards, making them a concern for well owners in this area.
These contaminants come from the local rock itself. The bedrock and soil layers in this county naturally release minerals like manganese and sulfate into groundwater over time. Arsenic, chloride, and lead can also occur naturally in these rock types or enter through soil layers.
Groundwater in this county is very hard, driven by elevated sulfate and the minerals that make water hard. The rock layers here dissolve minerals readily, especially in areas where water moves slowly through soil and stone. Very hard water and high sulfate are common across wells throughout Nobles County.
Wells in Nobles County have been found with arsenic, chloride, lead, manganese, and sulfate at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and increase cancer risk over time. Lead harms brain development in children and can cause learning problems, even at low levels. Manganese at high levels affects the nervous system and can cause movement problems. Chloride and sulfate at elevated levels can cause digestive issues and other health concerns.
The water in this county is very hard, which creates real problems in your home. Hard water leaves white scale on faucets, shower heads, and inside pipes. It makes soap work poorly, so you use more shampoo and detergent. The water can have a salty or bitter taste. Very hard water shortens the life of water heaters and dishwashers because scale builds up inside them.
Testing your well is the only way to know what is actually in your water. Every well is different, so your water could have higher or lower levels than what is common in the county. We recommend a comprehensive testing panel for metals and minerals, which usually costs between two hundred and four hundred dollars. A water test shows you exactly what needs treatment, whether that is a filter system, water softener, or other solution.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manganese | 125 | 85% | High | High | |
| Sulfate | 139 | 80% | High | High | |
| Iron | 140 | 69% | High | High | |
| Arsenic | 79 | 23% | Moderate | High | |
| Nitrate | 63 | 11% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Lead | 79 | 4% | Moderate |
Moderate
Elevated concentration, not % above limit
|
|
| Fluoride | 120 | 1% | High | Low | |
| Chloride | 141 | 1% | High | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 5 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Sodium | 132 | — | High | Low | |
| pH | 35 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 5 | — | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Hardness | 35 | — | 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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