Copper in Minnesota well water
In Minnesota, <1% of 8,040 tested private well samples exceeded the EPA limit for copper (1.3 mg/L).
Copper leaches from pipes when water is acidic. Above 1.3 mg/L it causes stomach upset, and long-term exposure can harm the liver and kidneys. Blue-green stains on fixtures are the giveaway.
Check your copper number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Minnesota well for copper
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
Affiliate links: the merchant pays us a commission and the price is the same for you. It does not change what the data above says.
Systems that remove copper
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For copper
Under-sink reverse osmosis system
under-sink or countertop, about $300
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification listing the contaminant you need removed.
For copper
Acid neutralizing filter
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $1,200
Raises pH so plumbing stops leaching lead and copper.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for copper in Minnesota: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from individual samples
Public monitoring samples against the EPA limit (1.3 mg/L); counties with at least 30 samples.
| County | Above EPA limit | Samples | Detected | Median | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake | 56 | 73% | 0 | 2.7 mg/L | |
| Stearns | 1,101 | 42% | 0 | 2.11 mg/L | |
| Lyon | 36 | 97% | 0.026 | 0.8 mg/L | |
| Stevens | 33 | 94% | 0.003 | 0.044 mg/L | |
| Pope | 86 | 87% | 0.001 | 0.051 mg/L | |
| Benton | 94 | 85% | 0.001 | 0.119 mg/L | |
| Douglas | 45 | 80% | 0.004 | 0.017 mg/L | |
| Nicollet | 114 | 75% | 0.001 | 0.062 mg/L | |
| Todd | 120 | 74% | 0.004 | 0.03 mg/L | |
| McLeod | 82 | 73% | 0 | 0.037 mg/L | |
| Sibley | 108 | 67% | 0.001 | 0.05 mg/L | |
| Blue Earth | 224 | 63% | 0.001 | 0.608 mg/L | |
| Isanti | 132 | 62% | 0.002 | 0.118 mg/L | |
| Carver | 84 | 56% | 0 | 0.036 mg/L | |
| Sherburne | 233 | 50% | 0 | 0.33 mg/L |
- St. Cloud, Stearns County<1% of 478
- Coon Rapids, Anoka County0% of 33
- Big Lake township, Sherburne County0% of 41
- Le Ray township, Blue Earth County0% of 102
- Verdi township, Lincoln County0% of 35
- Brooklyn Center, Hennepin County0% of 89
- Waite Park, Stearns County0% of 92
- Wyanett township, Isanti County0% of 118
- Perham township, Otter Tail County0% of 56
- St. Louis Park, Hennepin County0% of 30
- Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County0% of 102
- Cloquet, Carlton County0% of 55
- Crystal, Hennepin County0% of 41
- First Assessment UT, Crow Wing County0% of 40
- Birch Lake UT, St. Louis County0% of 47
- Eden Prairie, Hennepin County0% of 33
- Linwood township, Anoka County0% of 49
- St. Wendel township, Stearns County0% of 97
- Andover, Anoka County0% of 70
- St. Joseph, Stearns County0% of 61
Sources
- Individual samples from the USGS Water Quality Portal and state monitoring, summarized per geography. copper counts and shares are listed on each county and town page with their sources.