Groundwater in Pipestone County contains arsenic, chloride, iron, lead, nitrate, nitrite, and sulfate at levels that exceed federal health standards. These contaminants are present at concerning levels and well owners should test their water to know what they are drinking.
Iron, nitrate, and sulfate come from a mix of sources in this county. Agricultural activity--fertilizers and manure--adds nitrogen that becomes nitrate in the groundwater. The underlying rock here naturally contains iron and sulfur minerals that dissolve into water as it moves through the ground. Some saltiness from road salt and natural mineral deposits also contributes chloride to wells in this area.
Groundwater in Pipestone County is very hard, driven by elevated iron, sulfate, and sodium. The rock beneath this county slowly releases these minerals into the water as it passes through. These characteristics are widespread across wells throughout the county.
Wells in Pipestone County commonly have arsenic, lead, nitrate, nitrite, and chloride at levels that exceed EPA health standards. Arsenic can damage your kidneys and nervous system over time. Lead harms children's brain development and causes learning problems. Nitrate and nitrite can reduce how much oxygen your blood carries, which is especially dangerous for babies and pregnant women. Chloride at high levels can cause problems if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.
The water in this county is very hard, which means scale builds up on your faucets, shower heads, and inside pipes. Iron staining leaves orange or brown marks on sinks, toilets, and laundry. Hard water makes soap less effective and can shorten the life of water heaters and dishwashers. You might notice a sulfur or metallic taste in the water and rust-colored stains on your fixtures.
We recommend a comprehensive water test since multiple contaminants exceed health standards in county wells. Every well is different--your water could have higher or lower levels than what is common here. Testing is the only way to know exactly what is in your water so you can treat it properly. A comprehensive metals and minerals panel typically costs two hundred to four hundred dollars. Treatment options like reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters can address multiple concerns at once.
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 ⓘ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PFOS ⓘ municipal | 4 | 50% | Low | High ⓘ | |
| Manganese | 26 | 38% | Moderate | High | |
| Iron | 24 | 38% | Moderate | High | |
| Sulfate | 30 | 30% | Moderate | High | |
| Arsenic | 10 | 10% | Low | Moderate | |
| Lead | 10 | 10% | Low | Moderate | |
| PFOA ⓘ municipal | 11 | 9% | Low | Moderate | |
| Nitrate | 15 | 7% | Moderate | Moderate | |
| Chloride | 49 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| Fluoride | 18 | 0% | Moderate | Low | |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| Nitrite | 2 | 0% | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| PFHxS ⓘ municipal | 2 | 0% | Low | Safe ⓘ | |
| PFNA ⓘ municipal | 10 | 0% | Low | Safe | |
| Hardness | 14 | — | Low | Low | |
| PFBS ⓘ municipal | 3 | — | Low | Low ⓘ | |
| pH | 15 | — | Moderate | Low | |
| Sodium | 19 | — | 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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