Farm Horizons
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June 6, 2016
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Page 22
Arsenic concerns bubble up in private wells
By Marie Zimmerman
When Alissa Carlson and her husband, Trevor, moved
to her grandparents’ farm near Silver Lake, testing the
well water there was top-of-mind. But, after living there
more than a year, other important tasks cropped up, and
the couple still hasn’t had a certified water test.
“It’s something we did think about, we just never did
it,” Alissa Carlson said, adding her grandparents lived
until they were 90 and had no significant health problems, which gives the couple peace of mind.
But, McLeod County Environmental Services Director Roger Berggren warns, the county’s rural water supply is not all well and good.
“I don’t think a lot of people know we’re a high-risk
county for arsenic,” Berggren said. “So, it’s definitely
something where people should be more aware of it, and
do the testing.”
Glacial deposits thousands of years ago created high
concentrations of arsenic in local soil and rocks, which
then dissolve into groundwater. The element accumulates in the body and can cause nervous system problems, skin disorders, high blood pressure, and developmental delays in children, according to the Minnesota
Department of Health (MDH). Studies have also linked
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long-term exposure to arsenic in drinking water to increased risk of cancer.
Arsenic can be found almost anywhere in Minnesota,
but high levels are most likely from the Twin Cities and
west, to the border with the Dakotas. Levels can vary
from one well to the next, even if they are close to each
other.
“There’s no way of predicting where it’s going to be,”
Berggren said.
Starting in 2008, all new private wells in the state are
tested for arsenic before being placed in service. MDHS
data from 2008 to 2013 show that, on average, 10.4 percent of new wells have arsenic levels above 10 parts per
billion, the recommended safe limit.
“When we talk about parts per billion, one drop of
water in 16,000 gallons would be equivalent to one part
per billion,” Berggren explained.
In 2012, McLeod County did countywide testing. Of
54 samples collected, 61 percent were within the acceptable range, Berrgren said. Of those outside the acceptable range, the highest was 65.9 parts per billion. The
lowest was .5 parts per billion.
Water testing services are available from state and
county health agencies and private laboratories certified
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