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Well Water Testing · Adel, IA

Water testing in Adel

Water testing for Iowa homes, above all those on a private well. An accredited laboratory can test the water for coliform bacteria and E. coli…

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Adel · Dallas County

Well Water Testing in Adel

Water testing for Iowa homes, above all those on a private well. An accredited laboratory can test the water for coliform bacteria and E. coli, nitrate, arsenic and more. Iowa DNR recommends testing a private well at least once a year.

Adel is a brick-paved county seat on the Raccoon River, its historic square ringed by new growth. Housing here runs to Victorian and early-1900s homes around the brick-paved square, with new growth, across the historic square district and the newer subdivisions.

Adel is served by our Des Moines team →  ·  (563) 517-7815

Well water in Dallas County

Many Dallas County homes use city or rural water, yet a USGS-based estimate counts about 7,943 residents on private wells.About 61% of the county is row-crop land. We found no Dallas County-specific well test results. Iowa DNR advises annual bacteria and nitrate testing and arsenic at least once, via your county health department.

County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, services.shl.uiowa.edu.

Private wells and water systems around Adel

Adel, IA water testing: old repair garage on a Iowa small-town street in summer
E. coli: a sign of fecal contamination →
Old dry cleaner storefront on a Iowa main street in daylight (Dallas County, Iowa)
VOCs: fuels, solvents and degreasers →
Adel, IA water testing: rainbow sheen on a puddle beside a Iowa driveway close-up
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →

See all Adel inspections →  ·  Water testing in Iowa, explained →

Water tests available in Adel

Bacteria

Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.

  • Total coliform bacteria
    Surface contamination reaching the well
  • E. coli
    Fecal contamination from septic, manure or wildlife

Health chemicals

No taste, color or smell. These are the long-term health checks.

  • Nitrate
    Fertilizer, septic and manure; highest risk to infants
    10 mg/L (EPA)
  • Arsenic
    Natural arsenic from rock and soil
    10 µg/L (EPA)
  • Lead
    Lead service lines, solder and brass fixtures
  • Manganese
    Natural manganese; a concern for infants
  • Fluoride
    Natural fluoride; dental health
    4.0 mg/L (EPA)
  • Uranium
    Natural radionuclide in groundwater
    30 µg/L (EPA)

Petroleum & solvents

Fuel and chemical spills from old tanks or nearby sites.

  • VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
    Fuels, solvents, degreasers and paints
    Varies by compound (EPA)
  • DRO (diesel range organics)
    Diesel and heating-oil petroleum

Household quality

Staining, scale and taste, and choosing the right treatment.

  • Iron
    Rusty staining and metallic taste
  • Hardness
    Scale buildup; sizing a water softener
    No health standard
  • pH
    Corrosive or scaling water
    6.5 to 8.5, aesthetic (EPA)
  • Sulfate
    Taste and odor; diarrhea risk for infants
    250 mg/L, aesthetic (EPA)

Limits shown are EPA drinking water standards. Your lab report compares each result to the standards that apply.

Adel private well testing timeline

Iowa DNR recommends testing a private well at least once a year. Its testing guidance lists coliform bacteria and nitrate every year and arsenic every 3 years, with at least one arsenic test for every well. Source: Iowa DNR
TestYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6
Coliform bacteria
Nitrate
Arsenic

Test again any time after flooding, after work on the well, or when the water's taste, color or smell changes, and always when you buy a home with a well.

How far a well must be from common hazards in Adel

  • Property line4 ft
  • Building sewer line10 ft
  • LP gas tank15 ft
  • Roadside ditch15 ft
  • Stream, pond, lake or wetland25 ft
  • Septic tank50 ft
  • Septic absorption field100 ft
  • Fuel oil or gasoline tank100 ft
  • Fertilizer or chemical storage150 ft
Source: Iowa Administrative Code 567, chapter 49

Septic, feedlot or fuel tank near the well? A coliform and nitrate test shows whether it is reaching the water. Get a free instant quote

Buying a home with a well in Adel: what happens at the sale

  1. Groundwater Hazard StatementIowa Code 558.69 requires a groundwater hazard statement filed with the declaration of value when a listed condition (including any known well and its status under 455B.190, or a private sewage disposal system) exists on the property, signed by a seller or agent, with a copy given to the buyer.
  2. Wells on the propertyIf known wells are on the property, the statement must give the approximate location of each and its status under Iowa Code 455B.190 (abandoned wells properly plugged); the owner is responsible for the accuracy of the information.
  3. Septic time-of-transfer inspectionIowa Code 455B.172(11) requires a private sewage disposal system serving a building to be inspected before any transfer of ownership, by a DNR-certified inspector, and the county recorder will not record the deed without the report or a binding acknowledgment.
  4. Failing systemsA system that is failing to treat wastewater must be renovated to current standards by the seller or, by agreement and within a reasonable time set by the county board of health or DNR, by the buyer (455B.172(11)(c)).
Source: Iowa Code and Iowa DNR

The paperwork tells you a well exists, not what is in it. Add water testing to your inspection. Get a free instant quote

Questions

Common questions.

Who needs well water testing in Iowa?
Any home on a private well, and above all one you are buying. Iowa DNR recommends testing a private well at least once a year, and also when a well is new, after work on the well or pump, and when the water changes in look, smell or taste.
Is well water testing part of the home inspection?
It is an add-on. Add it to your home inspection quote. Testing early in your inspection window leaves time to act on the results.
Does farmland around Adel and Waukee mean my well needs a nitrate check?
The area estimate for Dallas County is low for nitrate, but the source notes individual wells can still exceed the limit, and about 61% of the county is row-crop land. The Iowa DNR lists nitrate as an annual test and notes shallow wells may contain high nitrate. Testing your own well is the only way to know.
What is specific to Adel homes?
The historic core around the brick streets is genuinely old — stone foundations, original services and masonry that has moved — while the new edges are boomburb stock. River-adjacent lots add the Raccoon valley questions: flood history, grading and basement moisture, which we establish rather than assume.
What does a positive coliform or E. coli result mean?
Per the State Hygienic Laboratory, absent coliform and E. coli means the water is bacterially safe. Present total coliform means unsafe with potential health concerns. Present coliform and E. coli means unsafe with serious health concerns, because a pathway from a waste source such as a septic tank or feedlot may exist. Short term, boil water for one minute or use a known safe source, then find and fix how bacteria are entering the system. A coliform result is a lab indicator of a possible sanitary defect, and a home inspection of the wellhead looks for visible defects like a loose cap or poor drainage.
Should I test my well after a flood?
Yes. Iowa DNR says never consume water from a well if flood water may have reached it, and test to find out if it is safe. Test for coliform and E. coli, and nitrate. Floods can raise groundwater loading near a well and surface water can enter through casing defects. Standard bacteria tests do not detect Giardia or Cryptosporidium, so ask the county about State Hygienic Laboratory parasite testing if you suspect flood contamination. After a flood, only lab testing shows whether a well is safe, and a wellhead check can note casing or cap damage.
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