We read 12 results from Albert Lea’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 18,492 people · Water system ID MN1240001 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range 3.4 to 12 · 2025 report, page 4 | 12 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.82 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal9.1x the health goal |
| Radium (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range 1.7 to 4.1 · 2025 report, page 4 | 4.1 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Chlorinehighest running annual average · range 0.19 to 0.59 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.42 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 1.8 · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.8 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 2.2 to 3.1 · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.1 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluoridehighest running annual average · range 0.63 to 0.92 · 2025 report, page 5 | 0.9 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.09 to 0.66 · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.66 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Sulfatehighest measured · range 17.6 to 32.5 · 2025 report, page 7 | 32.5 ppm | — | 250 ppm guideline | Within the guideline |
| Lithiumhighest measured · range 20.4 to 20.7 · 2025 report, page 7 | 20.7 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBA (a PFAS)highest running annual average · range ND to 1.3 · 2025 report, page 7 | 0.67 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
| Sodiumhighest measured · range 11.8 to 17.4 · 2025 report, page 7 | 17.4 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 1 number we weren’t sure about is held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Albert Lea’s water between Nov 2024 and May 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- Lithium21.1 ppbFound in 6 of 6 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
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