When your drinking water comes from a private well, it is easy to assume everything is fine as long as the water looks clear and tastes normal. The problem is that many water issues cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted.
Regular testing is the only dependable way to know what is in your well water.
Private wells are not tested or monitored like public water systems. As the well owner, you are responsible for checking your water and keeping your well in good working condition.
Here is a simple guide to testing your drinking water and knowing when your well may need attention.
What Should You Test Well Water For?
Minnesota well owners should test for several common water problems.
Coliform bacteria
Coliform bacteria can enter a well through surface water, damaged well parts, poor drainage, flooding, septic problems, or gaps around the well casing.
A positive coliform result does not always mean someone will get sick. However, it can be a warning that germs may be getting into the well.
Nitrate
Nitrate can enter groundwater from fertilizer, animal waste, septic systems, runoff, and other sources. High nitrate levels are especially dangerous for babies under six months old.
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends testing private wells regularly for nitrate.
Arsenic
Arsenic occurs naturally in some Minnesota groundwater. You cannot tell whether arsenic is present by looking at, smelling, or tasting the water.
Minnesota homeowners should test their well for arsenic at least once. A new test may also be needed if the well is replaced or major changes are made to it.
Lead
Lead usually enters drinking water from plumbing parts rather than from the groundwater itself. Older pipes, faucets, fittings, and well system parts may contain lead.
Testing is the only way to know whether lead is reaching your drinking water.
Manganese
Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater. Small amounts may affect the color or taste of water. Higher amounts may be a health concern, especially for babies.
Minnesota recommends testing for manganese before a baby regularly drinks the water or has formula mixed with it.
Other water concerns
Depending on your property and the area around your well, you may also need testing for:
- Iron
- Hardness
- Sulfur
- pH
- Total dissolved solids
- Pesticides or herbicides
- Fuel-related chemicals
- Radium
- PFAS
A local health department, accredited laboratory, or licensed well contractor can help you decide which tests make sense for your property.
How Often Should You Test Your Well Water?
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends testing for coliform bacteria every year and nitrate every other year. It also recommends testing at least once for arsenic, lead, and manganese.
Federal guidance is slightly broader. The CDC recommends testing private well water at least once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH, and total dissolved solids.
For many homeowners, an annual water test is the easiest schedule to remember.
You should also test your water after:
- Flooding or heavy runoff near the well
- Well repairs or pump work
- A broken or damaged well cap
- A change in taste, smell, or color
- A long period when the well was not used
- A new baby or pregnant person joins the household
- A nearby fuel spill, septic problem, or other source of pollution
The CDC also recommends checking the physical condition of the well each spring.
Can You Test Well Water Yourself?
Home water test strips can give you a rough reading for things such as hardness, iron, or pH. They may be useful when checking water used for appliances or choosing a water softener.
However, a home test strip should not be your only check for drinking water safety.
For bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead, and other health-related concerns, use a laboratory accredited by the State of Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Health keeps a current list of accredited laboratories that accept samples from private well owners.
A laboratory test gives you a written report and a more dependable result.
How to Collect a Well Water Sample
The laboratory will normally provide a clean sample bottle and instructions. Follow those directions closely because different tests may require different bottles or collection steps.
In most cases, the process looks like this:
1. Choose the correct faucet
Use a faucet that supplies water directly from the well when possible.
The laboratory may tell you to avoid sampling through a water softener, filter, garden hose, or other treatment system. For some tests, however, the lab may want a sample from the kitchen tap to check the water you actually drink.
Ask the laboratory if you are unsure.
2. Prepare the faucet
Remove any screen, aerator, filter, or hose attachment if the laboratory instructions tell you to do so.
Do not touch the inside of the sample bottle or bottle cap.
3. Run the water
Let the cold water run for the amount of time listed in the laboratory instructions. This helps bring fresh water from the well and pressure tank to the faucet.
4. Fill the bottle carefully
Open the bottle only when you are ready to collect the water.
Do not rinse the bottle. Some sample bottles contain a material needed for the test.
Fill it to the marked line, close it tightly, and write down the collection date and time.
5. Keep the sample cold
Many water samples must be kept cold and delivered to the laboratory within a set number of hours.
Place the bottle in a cooler with ice packs and take it to the laboratory as soon as possible. Always follow the lab’s handling and delivery instructions.
What Do Water Test Results Mean?
Your laboratory report should show the amount of each substance found and the drinking water limit or health guidance used for comparison.
Some results are simple. A bacteria test may say “present,” “absent,” “positive,” or “negative.” Chemical results are often shown as milligrams per liter, micrograms per liter, or parts per billion.
Do not guess when reading a result. Contact the laboratory, your local health department, or a qualified well professional if anything is unclear.
A failed test does not always mean you need a new well. The cause could be:
- A loose or damaged well cap
- Cracks or openings in the well casing
- Poor drainage around the well
- A plumbing problem
- A nearby septic or runoff issue
- A treatment system that is not working correctly
- A well that needs cleaning or disinfection
The right fix depends on what was found and how it entered the water.
Keep the Area Around Your Well Clean
Water testing is important, but prevention matters too.
Keep the ground around the well sloped so rain and melting snow flow away from it. Do not store fuel, fertilizer, pesticides, animal waste, or other possible pollutants near the well.
Check the well cap for cracks, loose parts, missing bolts, or openings where insects and dirt could enter. Avoid hitting the well casing with lawn equipment, snowplows, vehicles, or farm machinery.
If the well is in a low area where water collects, have it inspected.
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Well Water Help in Melrose, Minnesota
If your water has changed color, developed an unusual smell, lost pressure, or failed a laboratory test, the well system may need professional attention.
Wheels Water Service provides well drilling and well maintenance services in the Melrose, Minnesota area. We can inspect your well system, look for possible problems, and explain the repair or maintenance options available.
Testing your well water regularly gives you useful information. Keeping the well in good condition helps protect that water for years to come.
Contact Wheels Water Service to schedule well service or discuss a concern with your well.
