How Do Public-System Records Differ from Private-Well Testing in What They Establish?
Publicly available water quality records, like those from the U.S. Geological Survey, show measured water characteristics from area wells but cannot determine the exact condition of any single private well. They provide useful context about regional water quality trends and potential issues but do not replace testing of your own water source. Actual pH or acidity of your household water must be confirmed by a certified water test specific to your well or municipal tap.
What Do 'Detected', 'Median' and 'Range' Mean in the Sampling Record on This Page?
In Hennepin County's aquifer 112GSSG, pH was measured in 59 samples from 21 wells between 2010 and 2016. 'Detected' means pH was measurable in every tested sample. The 'median' pH value of 7.1 indicates that half the samples were above and half below this number. The 'range' of 6.5 to 8.0 shows the minimum and maximum values documented in the sampled wells. These numbers describe a regional spread of acidity and alkalinity but do not imply that your water matches any specific figure.
What Is the Role of Plumbing Material and Age, Separate from the Source Water?
Even with neutral or slightly acidic water from the source, household plumbing and fixture materials can influence the final water pH and its interaction effects. Older pipes or certain metals can react with water, potentially lowering pH further or causing corrosive effects independent of source water acidity. Understanding the condition of your home's plumbing is important alongside water testing for proper equipment selection addressing acidic water.
How Many Samples and Wells Stand Behind the Figures, and What Does a Small Sample Mean?
The pH data for Hennepin County aquifer 112GSSG comes from 59 samples collected over several years from 21 individual wells at shallow depths of 9 to 29 feet. While this provides a solid regional snapshot, the sample size is moderate and reflects variability in specific well locations and conditions. For a homeowner, this means the public data can guide expectations but should not substitute for in-home water analysis to determine precise treatment needs.
A Worked Example: Reading the Record's Median and Range as a Homeowner Would
Given the median pH of 7.1 and a sample range beginning at 6.5 in the area’s shallow wells, a residential water user in Hennepin County might find their water near neutral but potentially on the low end of that scale. Water with lower pH values, approaching 6.5, is considered acidic under EPA secondary standards for aesthetics and potential plumbing effects. If your certified test shows acidic conditions, selecting equipment designed for low-pH water, such as the Autotrol Acidic / Low-pH Water Filter, can help stabilize pH and protect plumbing without relying solely on regional data.
In summary, the Hennepin County aquifer 112GSSG public sampling data, sourced from multiple shallow wells over six years, provide a regional view of pH variability useful for understanding potential water acidity. However, individual household water conditions require specific testing to choose appropriate corrective equipment. More details can be found at the U.S. Geological Survey groundwater sampling site for this aquifer.
Where this information comes from
Source: USGS groundwater sampling. Sampled 2016-09-08. These figures describe groundwater sampled in this area. They are not a test of any individual private well - only a test of that well can establish its own water.
On record: U.S. Geological Survey sampling of pH in the 112GSSG aquifer (Hennepin County): 59 results from 21 wells, median 7.1 standard units, range 6.5-8.0 standard units; EPA secondary standard for pH is 6.5-8.5 (aesthetic/corrosivity, not health-based); 0 of 59 sampled results fell below 6.5
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