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Well Water Testing · Boone, IA

Water testing in Boone

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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Boone · Boone County

Well Water Testing in Boone

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.

Boone is a railroad city above the Des Moines River valley, with a deep early-1900s stock. Housing here runs to deep early-1900s railroad-city stock with postwar additions, across the historic core and the postwar neighborhoods.

Questions about a Boone home?  ·  Call or text (563) 517-7815

Tile drainage outlet in an Iowa ditch, spring: well water testing in Boone, IA
VOCs: fuels, solvents and degreasers →

Well water in Boone County

Boone County's Health and Sanitation page says every private well used for drinking should be tested at least once each year, and describes the state Private Well Grants Program as free testing for bacteria, E. coli, nitrate, arsenic and manganese. It lists bacteria and nitrate as annual and arsenic as every 3 years, and directs residents to the county health department.About 72% of the county is row-crop land.

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

Iowa cornfield next to a farmhouse lawn, summer: well water testing in Boone, IA
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →

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

Water tests available in Boone

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.

Boone 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 Boone

  • 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 Boone: 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.
Is there help paying for a private well check in Boone County?
Boone County's page says the Iowa Private Well Grants Program provides free water testing for bacteria, E. coli, nitrate, arsenic and manganese, and tells owners to contact the local county health department. The State Hygienic Laboratory says county participation matters, so confirm with the county sanitarian before arranging anything, since the Iowa DNR also notes shallow wells may contain high nitrate.
What comes up most in Boone homes?
A railroad city's worth of century homes — original panels, layered wiring, aging clay sewer laterals worth scoping, and foundations at the hundred-year mark. Lots toward the Des Moines River valley rim add slope drainage. We date every major system so the report reads as a plan, not a scare.
How is a well shock chlorinated, and what does Iowa DNR say about retesting?
DNR's flood guidance says if a well is positive for coliform or E. coli, purge and shock chlorinate the well and water system, then retest for bacteria, fecal coliform and nitrate 7 to 10 days later, repeating until there is zero coliform and fecal coliform. Iowa's well rules (567 IAC 49.24) call for chlorine to reach every part of the well and stay in contact long enough. Shock chlorination does not remove Giardia or Cryptosporidium. A follow-up lab test is the check that a disinfection actually cleared bacteria from the well.
Who do I call to get my well tested?
Call your county environmental health department and ask for the county sanitarian (environmental health specialist). DNR says local county health departments can help but you must contact them to start testing. Under the grant guidance the county health specialist must collect the samples, and the sanitarian can also help interpret results. DNR keeps a county contact spreadsheet that ISU Extension links to from its drinking water page. A lab result from a properly collected sample is what turns a guess about well water into a documented answer.
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