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Well Water Testing · Buckman, MN

Water testing in Buckman

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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Buckman · Morrison County

Well Water Testing in Buckman

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 year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

Buckman is a small Highway 25 farm town in southeast Morrison County on Buckman Creek. Housing here runs to older farm-town houses, some postwar homes and some newer ones, many of them on private wells and septic, across the compact townsite along Highway 25 and the farm sites of Buckman Township around it.

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

Well water in Morrison County

In its 2013-2016 township testing of 11 townships, the final dataset of 1,104 wells had 10.8% at or over the 10 mg/L health risk limit. Agram Township reached 47.3%, Belle Prairie 11.5% and Ripley 12.8%, while Elmdale was 3.1%. Results vary a lot by township, so test each well. MDH lists coliform yearly, nitrate every year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

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

Home inspection in Buckman →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Pairs well with:

Septic inspection in BuckmanRadon testing in BuckmanSewer scope in Buckman

Water tests available in Buckman

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. Compare your lab results with these values.

Buckman private well testing timeline

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

When to test your water

  • Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well. Nitrate can come from fertilizer, septic systems and animal waste.
  • At least onceArsenic and lead. Arsenic can differ even between neighboring wells.
  • Before a baby drinks the waterColiform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead and manganese. MDH recommends testing a private well for all five before a baby drinks the water.
  • When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
  • After flooding or well workFlooding and repairs to the well are reasons to test again.
  • When taste, color or smell changesMDH says a change in taste, smell or look is a reason to test for coliform bacteria.
  • Near a fuel tank or industrial siteVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and heating oil. MDH says to consider a VOC test if the well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area.
  • City water in an older homeLead. MDH says homes built before 1940 may have lead service lines, and plumbing parts made before 1986 may contain lead.

Based on: MDH well testing, MDH coliform bacteria, MDH nitrate, MDH water for babies, MDH flood precautions, MDH lead.

How to get it done

  1. Choose your testsPick the water testing you need in the free instant quote.
  2. Pick a timeBook online. The quote takes about 30 seconds.
  3. Get certified lab resultsA certified laboratory analyzes the water and reports each result.

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Private wells and water systems around Buckman

Buckman, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, split-level home on a wooded lot behind it on the edge of the Twin Cities suburbs in summer
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in the foreground, ranch home on acreage behind it on the edge of the Twin Cities suburbs in autumn color (Morrison County, Minnesota)
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Buckman, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, newer two-story home on a rural lot behind it on the edge of the Twin Cities suburbs in summer
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →

Nitrate in Morrison County wells

10.8%

10.8% of 1,104 wells tested in 11 townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2013-2016).

Source: Minnesota Department of Agriculture township testing

Township numbers are averages. Only a test of your own well tells you its nitrate level. Get a free instant quote

How far a well must be from common hazards in Buckman

  • 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

Arsenic in Buckman private wells, out of every 100

About 40 in 100 have some arsenic About 10 in 100 are above the 10 µg/L standard

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

You can't see, smell or taste arsenic. One lab test tells you where the well stands. 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 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.
How high is nitrate in Morrison County private wells?
In MDA's 2013-2016 testing, 10.8% of 1,104 wells in 11 townships were at or over 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen. Agram Township was 47.3%, Ripley 12.8%, Belle Prairie 11.5%, Elmdale 3.1%.
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.
Does Buckman Creek matter for a house in Buckman?
A little, and it is worth a look. Buckman Creek runs through the northern part of town and drains toward the Platte River, so low lots near the creek can hold water after spring melt or a heavy rain. Grading, window wells, the sump pit and basement walls are worth checking for staining and efflorescence. Morrison County sits in Minnesota Frost Zone I, where footings go 5 feet deep, so it is also worth asking how older additions and porches were founded. Morrison County is EPA Radon Zone 2, and a 48-hour test is still worthwhile.
How do I get rid of E. coli in my well?
Disinfect the well with a chlorine solution, either through a licensed well contractor or by following the MDH well disinfection instructions. Then have an accredited lab retest the water before you drink it. MDH suggests testing again two to four weeks later, and a contractor can look for the entry point if it returns.
How do you get rid of VOCs in well water?
MDH advises first removing the source of contamination or using a safer water supply. If that is not possible, home treatment may be appropriate, and some technologies can reduce VOCs depending on the filter media. Choose a certified unit, use a licensed plumber or water conditioning contractor, and retest after installation.
When should I test my private well in Minnesota?
The Department of Health recommends testing for coliform bacteria every year and any time the well or water system is worked on or the water changes in taste, smell, or look. It also recommends nitrate every year, arsenic at least once, lead at least once, and manganese before a baby drinks the water. A lab test is the only way to detect most common contaminants, since you cannot taste, see, or smell them.
Does the well disclosure apply to sand-point and dug wells too?
Yes. The Minnesota Department of Health says the disclosure law covers all types of wells, whether used for drinking water, irrigation, livestock, heating or cooling, or monitoring. That includes drive-point (sand-point) wells, drilled wells, and dug wells. The law is Minnesota Statutes section 103I.235, part of the Ground Water Protection Act. Ask for the disclosure early, then have the in-use well tested before closing.
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