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Well Water Testing · Brooklyn Park, MN

Water testing in Brooklyn Park

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

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Brooklyn Park · Hennepin County

Well Water Testing in Brooklyn Park

Water testing for Minnesota homes, above all those on a private well. An accredited laboratory tests the water for coliform bacteria and E. coli, nitrate, arsenic, lead, manganese, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), DRO (diesel range organics), iron, hardness, pH, fluoride, sulfate and uranium. The Minnesota Department of Health recommends testing a private well for coliform bacteria every year, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

Brooklyn Park is a large northwest suburb of 1970s-90s subdivisions and newer infill along the Mississippi. Housing here runs to 1970s-90s subdivisions with newer infill, across the established subdivisions and the newer riverside development.

Brooklyn Park is served by our Big Lake team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Pitcher of water on a counter in a 1960s Minnesota kitchen: well water testing in Brooklyn Park, MN
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →

Well water in Hennepin County

Hennepin County has no MDA township nitrate report on the schedule page, so there is no county well percentage to cite. MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells have arsenic above 10 ug/L, with levels varying over short distances, and that shallow and sand-aquifer wells are most exposed to nitrate. Boiling does not remove nitrate; it concentrates it. MDH lists coliform yearly, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

County facts checked September 2026 against: hennepincounty.gov, mda.state.mn.us, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health.

Glass of water filled at a kitchen faucet in a Minnesota lake cabin kitchen: well water testing in Brooklyn Park, MN
Lead: MDH says no level is safe →

See all Brooklyn Park inspections →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Water tests available in Brooklyn Park

Bacteria

Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.

  • Total coliform bacteria
    Surface contamination reaching the well
    None should be present (MDH)
  • E. coli
    Fecal contamination from septic, manure or wildlife
    None should be present (MDH)

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 Minnesota rock and soil
    10 µg/L (EPA)
  • Lead
    Lead service lines, solder and brass fixtures
    No safe level (MDH)
  • Manganese
    Natural manganese; a concern for infants
    100 µg/L for infants (MDH guidance)
  • 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
    No limit of its own; a petroleum screen (MPCA)

Household quality

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

  • Iron
    Rusty staining and metallic taste
    0.3 mg/L, aesthetic (MDH)
  • 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 from MDH, EPA and MPCA. Your lab report compares each result to these values.

Brooklyn Park private well testing timeline

Minnesota Department of Health schedule: coliform bacteria every year, nitrate every other year, arsenic and lead at least once. Source: MDH
TestYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6
Coliform bacteria
Nitrate
Arsenic
Lead

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.

Buying a home with a well in Brooklyn Park: the disclosure rules

  1. Before the purchase agreementThe seller discloses in writing every known well and whether it is in use, not in use or sealed.
  2. At closingA well disclosure certificate is signed, unless the deed says the seller knows of no wells.
  3. If a well was hiddenA seller who knew of an undisclosed well can owe the sealing cost and attorney fees if the buyer sues within six years.
Source: Minnesota Statutes 103I.235

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

How far a well must be from common hazards in Brooklyn Park

  • Building (closest projection)3 ft
  • Lake, river, stream or pond35 ft
  • Septic tank50 ft
  • Drainfield (soil dispersal area)50 ft (100 ft sensitive well)
  • Animal feedlot or building (over 1 animal unit)50 ft
  • Cesspool or seepage pit75 ft (150 ft sensitive well)
  • Unroofed feedlot, 300+ animal units100 ft
  • Unprotected petroleum tank, 1,100+ gallons150 ft
Source: Minnesota Rules 4725.4450 and 4725.4350

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

Questions

Common questions.

Who needs well water testing?
Any home on a private well, and above all when you are buying one. A private well is not regulated like a city water system, so the owner is responsible for knowing what is in the water. Testing before closing tells you whether the water needs treatment while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
What does the water panel cover?
The panel covers coliform bacteria and E. coli, nitrate, arsenic, lead, manganese, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), DRO (diesel range organics), iron, hardness, pH, fluoride, sulfate and uranium. Bacteria and nitrate are the short-term health checks. Arsenic, lead, manganese and uranium are the ones you cannot see or taste. VOCs and DRO screen for solvents and petroleum, such as fuel from an old oil tank or a nearby leak site. Iron, hardness, pH and sulfate explain staining, scale, odor and wear on plumbing and appliances.
How often should a well be tested?
The Minnesota Department of Health recommends coliform bacteria every year, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once. Test again after flooding, after any work on the well, or if the taste, color or smell of the water changes.
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.
Do Hennepin County homes with private wells need arsenic testing?
MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells exceed 10 ug/L arsenic and that it can vary a lot between nearby wells, so it advises testing at least once.
My home is on city water. Is water testing still worth it?
Often yes. Community water systems follow EPA testing rules and report results in an annual Consumer Confidence Report, but that report does not measure your own plumbing. MDH and EPA say lead enters mainly from service lines and plumbing materials, and the only way to know is a tap test. MDH recommends an accredited lab, and your utility can say whether your home has a lead service line.
When should a home be tested for DRO or VOCs?
MDH suggests considering a VOC test when a well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area. MPCA reports petroleum has leaked at about 22,000 Minnesota sites, including home heating-oil tanks, and releases can threaten drinking water and send vapors into buildings. Reasons to test include a nearby leak site, a former or buried fuel tank, or a fuel odor or sheen. MPCA's leaking-tank-site database shows reported releases.
Do you inspect Brooklyn Park's larger subdivisions?
Yes — we know the 1970s-90s build cycles here, from original furnaces and water heaters reaching end of life to the poly-B and aluminum-era wiring questions that come up in specific vintages.
Can I boil well water that tested positive for coliform?
MDH says boiled or bottled water can be used for drinking and cooking until the problem is fixed. However, do not boil the water if nitrate or arsenic was also detected, because boiling can increase their concentration. In that case use bottled water or another safe source until the well is treated and retested.
What is the safe level of nitrate in drinking water in Minnesota?
The EPA standard is 10 mg/L of nitrate measured as nitrogen, equal to 10 parts per million. It is based on protecting infants from blue baby syndrome. Natural processes usually keep drinking water below 3 mg/L, so higher results often point to a human-made source near the well.
How high should a well casing stick up above the ground?
Minnesota Rules 4725.2250 requires a casing or casing extension to extend vertically at least 12 inches above the established ground surface, the floor of a well house, or a concrete slab. The ground next to the casing must be graded to divert water away. Ending the casing below ground, such as in a well pit, is prohibited. Ponding or poor grading around the casing is a good reason to test for coliform bacteria.
What should I look for on a well cap?
The Department of Health asks owners to check whether the well cap is securely attached, broken, or missing, whether the casing has cracks, holes, or corrosion, and whether electrical conduit and other connections are watertight. Under Minnesota Rules 4725.5450, a vent must be screened with openings of 1/16 inch or less and point downward. A damaged cap or vent is a good reason to test for coliform bacteria.
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