# Chemistry

This page last updated: 11/25/2025
Metadata created using Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines

Go to Section:

1. Overview
2. Data Quality
3. Data Organization
4. Coordinate System
5. Attributes
6. Distribution - Get Data
7. Metadata Reference

## Section 1: Overview

Originator:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Title: Chemistry
Abstract: Chemistry data include samples collected from wells, springs, and rivers by DNR staff, and historical data from earlier studies. Chemical parameters analyzed include the following: major cations and anions, trace elements, field parameters, tritium, stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, and carbon-14.
Purpose: Houston County Groundwater Atlas, Part B
Time Period of Content Date:
Currentness Reference: Data were acquired or accessed between 2014 and 2021
Progress: Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency: None Planned
Spatial Extent of Data: Houston County, Minnesota
Bounding Coordinates: -91.731
-91.217
43.853
43.493
Place Keywords: Houston County, Minnesota
Theme Keywords: Groundwater, water chemistry, residence time, stable isotopes, wells, springs
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None
Access Constraints: None
Use Constraints: Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references here and information on file in the offices of the Minnesota Geological Survey and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Every effort has been made to ensure the interpretation shown conforms to sound geologic and cartographic principles. This map should not be used to establish legal title, boundaries, or locations of improvements.
Contact Person Information: CGA, GIS Specialist
Minnesota DNR - Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: county.groundwater.atlas.dnr@state.mn.us
Browse Graphic: None available
Associated Data Sets: Houston County Geologic Atlas, Part A, published by the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS). More information and downloadable data for Part A available on the MGS site: http://www.mngs.umn.edu/county_atlas/countyatlas.htm

## Section 2: Data Quality

Attribute Accuracy: 1:100,000
Logical Consistency: Data are topologically correct using ArcGIS Pro 3.3
Completeness: Complete
Horizontal Positional Accuracy:
Lineage: This file primarily contains well and spring locations and associated inorganic and isotope chemistry for samples collected for this project. Data also include surface water samples. Some data are available in table format only (chempt_other).
Chemistry data are stored in EQuIS database maintained by the MPCA and in a database managed by the Minnesota Department of Health. Chemistry data are available upon request.

## Section 3: Spatial Data Organization (not used in this metadata)

## Section 4: Coordinate System

Horizontal Coordinate Scheme: Universal Transverse Mercator
UTM Zone Number: 15
Horizontal Datum: NAD83
Horizontal Units: meters
Vertical Datum:
Vertical Units:
Depth Datum:
Depth Units:

## Section 5: Attributes

Overview:
Detailed Citation:
Table Detail:

houston_chemistry
Field Name | Valid Values | Definition | Definition Source
--- | --- | --- | ---
Relateid | - | Four 0s followed by 6-digit unique number for wells, or a 10-digit alphanumeric spring number |
AQUIFER | - | County Well Index aquifer code |
XSEC | - | Cross section number associated with the sample, letter indicates published hydrogeologic cross section shown on Part B |
TRITIUM | - | Tritium in tritium units (TU) |
TRIT_AGE | enumerated | Residence time estimated from tritium value |
| recent | water entered the ground since about 1953 |
| mixed | water is a mixture of recent and vintage |
| vintage | water entered the ground before 1953 |
C14_YEARS | - | Groundwater residence time in years, estimated by carbon-14 isotope analysis |
CHLORIDE | - | Chloride concentration in parts per million |
BROMIDE | - | Bromide concentration in parts per million |
CL_BR | - | Chloride/bromide ratio |
NITRATE_N | - | Nitrate concentration in parts per million, reported as Nitrogen |
DEUTERIUM | - | Deuterium (permil) |
OXYGEN_18 | - | Oxygen-18 (permil) |
ARSENIC | - | Arsenic in parts per billion |
MANGANESE | - | Manganese in parts per billion |
DATASOURCE | - | Source of data |
PROJECT | - | Project for which the data were collected |
SITETYPE | - | Type of site where water sample was collected |

## Section 6: Distribution

Publisher: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Ecological and Water Resources Division
Publication Date: 11/25/2025
Contact Person Information: CGA, GIS Specialist
Minnesota DNR - Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: county.groundwater.atlas.dnr@state.mn.us
Distributor's Data Set Identifier: houston_chemistry
Distribution Liability: These data were prepared from publicly available information only. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the factual data on which these files are based. However, the Department of Natural Resources does not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or any implied uses of these data. Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references here and information on file in the offices of the Department of Natural Resources.
Ordering Instructions: Download zip file of metadata and feature classes by clicking "I AGREE" below.
PDFs of the County Groundwater Atlas plates can be downloaded at: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/waters/groundwater_section/mapping/status.html
Online Linkage: I AGREE to the notice in "Distribution Liability" above. Clicking to agree will either begin the download process, link to a service, or provide more instructions. See "Ordering Instructions" above for details.

## Section 7: Metadata Reference

Metadata Date: 11/25/2025
Contact Person Information: CGA, GIS Specialist
Minnesota DNR - Ecological and Water Resources
500 Lafayette Rd
Saint Paul, MN 55155-4025
Phone: 651-259-5693
Email: county.groundwater.atlas.dnr@state.mn.us
Metadata Standard Name: Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines
Metadata Standard Version: 1.2
Metadata Standard Online Linkage: http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/committee/standards/mgmg/metadata.htm

This page last updated: 11/25/2025
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