Residents in the Rush River watershed had the opportunity to have their well water tested during spring 2003. The watershed coordinator and county water planners discussed the well water test results with citizens and provided an overview of the monitoring efforts underway in the watershed.

Arsenic
Results of recent testing of rural drinking water has revealed that many area wells exceed the drinking water standard for Arsenic concentration. Thirty-seven percent of samples collected from 183 area wells tested over the drinking water standard set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Elevated arsenic concentrations were found at all well depths. The majority of wells that have elevated arsenic concentrations are found in the 100 ft to 300 ft range. Geographically, wells with elevated arsenic are found throughout the watershed (arsenic map). However, north of Gibbon and south of Gaylord appear to be locations where several wells have higher arsenic concentrations. In general, wells in the far eastern and southern portions of the watershed had lower arsenic concentrations.

Bacteria
25% of wells tested positive for bacterial contamination. Of these 43 wells, 2 wells tested positive for E. Coli bacteria. There is no correlation between well depth and bacterial results. Location in the watershed does not seem correlated to results.

Nitrate
5% of wells tested above the drinking water standard for nitrate in well water. These wells correlated with well depth. All 9 wells that exceeded the drinking water standard for nitrate were under 140 ft in depth. There is no correlation between location in the watershed and concentration.

If you missed the well water clinic, but are interested in having your water tested on your own, you can bring a sample to one of the laboratories listed below. Testing for Arsenic runs from $15 to $25.

Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratory
1126 North Front Street
New Ulm, MN 56073-0249
(507) 354-8517

Brown-Nicollet Community Health Services
322 South Minnesota Avenue
St. Peter, MN 56082
(507) 934-4140

Publications
Well Water Testing Summary (pdf 13 k)
Testing Reveals Arsenic in Drinking Water (pdf 7 k)
Map of 2003 Arsenic Testing (174k)