Baseline water-quality data for sand-plain aquifers in Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, and Wadena counties, Minnesota

Tapping the surficial sand-plain aquifers in west-central Minnesota has raised the possibility for degradation of water quality. The sand-plain areas are generally overlain by sandy soils that permit rapid infiltration of precipitation and, possibly, of surface contaminants. One hundred twenty-five wells were sampled in Hubbard, Morrison, Otter Tail, and Wadena Counties during 1979-81 to establish regional baseline water quality. The wells were chosen to provide optimum areal coverage based on geology, direction of ground-water flow, and extent of aquifer development.

Water from the sand-plain aquifers is of the calcium bicarbonate type. The water is hard to very hard with dissolved solids ranging from about 100 to 700 milligrams per liter. Locally, concentrations of dissolved solids, iron, manganese, and nitrate exceeded limits recommended by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.