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The MDA Township Testing Program tests private wells for nitrate in areas of the state with the greatest potential for nitrate contamination. The initial results include data from all wells initially tested regardless of well construction or nitrogen source. Final results are determined using two rounds of sampling and a process to remove wells with construction concerns, insufficient construction information and those near potential non-fertilizer sources of nitrate. In many cases wells are removed from the final data set because homeowners didn’t participate in the second round of testing. Final results represent wells that are potentially impacted by a fertilizer source. Townships with less than 20 wells in the final dataset were determined to have insufficient data to characterize the water quality for a township. The percentage value shown in the legend for this layer reflects the percentage of wells by township included in the final dataset that have nitrate values at or above the drinking water standard of 10 ppm.
Data source: More information on the Township Testing Program can be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website (https://www.mda.state.mn.us/township-testing-program). |