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Well Water Testing · Buffalo Lake, MN

Water testing in Buffalo Lake

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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Buffalo Lake · Renville County

Well Water Testing in Buffalo Lake

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.

Buffalo Lake is a small farm town of older homes on eastern Renville County prairie. Housing here runs to older farm-town homes, across the town core.

Questions about a Buffalo Lake home?  ·  Call or text (612) 457-1634

Well water in Renville County

MDA's township testing schedule lists no Renville County report, so there is no county nitrate percentage to quote. That does not show a well is clean, only that no countywide MDA sample exists to point to. MDH recommends that private well owners test for coliform bacteria every year, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once, and it advises using an accredited laboratory. A result from your own well, dated and on a lab report, is the reliable record.

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

See all Buffalo Lake inspections →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Water tests available in Buffalo Lake

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.

Buffalo Lake 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.

Water testing in Buffalo Lake: what matters

Buffalo Lake, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, newer two-story home on a rural lot behind it in the Minnesota River valley in summer
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in the foreground, split-level home on a wooded lot behind it in the Minnesota River valley in autumn color (Renville County, Minnesota)
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Buffalo Lake, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, small cabin behind it in the Minnesota River valley in summer
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →

How deep Buffalo Lake wells go

15 ftsand and gravel (most wells)sandstone and limestone (SE and east central, incl. Twin Cities)1,000+ ft · fractured rock such as granite (NE)
Source: MDH Well Owner's Handbook

Depth and aquifer change what is in the water. Test the well you are buying, not the neighbor's. Get a free instant quote

Arsenic in Buffalo Lake 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 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.
Does Renville County have an MDA nitrate report for private wells?
No. MDA's township testing schedule lists no Renville County report, so there is no county percentage to cite. Your own well is the only number that matters here. MDH recommends accredited laboratory testing, with nitrate every other year and coliform yearly.
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 cover Buffalo Lake?
Yes — the small prairie town's older stock gets a full local inspection.
What does it mean if E. coli is found in my well water?
It likely means feces, and the harmful germs they can carry, have entered the well. CDC notes most E. coli is harmless, but some types can cause serious illness, and a standard test cannot tell which type is present. Use bottled or another safe water source and contact your local health department.
Should I test my well for VOCs if there is a gas station nearby?
MDH says to consider testing for volatile organic chemicals if your well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area. A nearby station is a reasonable reason to ask an accredited laboratory for a VOC analysis. Results are compared with MDH health-based guidance values for each compound.
How far must a well be from a septic tank or drainfield?
Under Minnesota Rules 4725.4450, a water-supply well must be at least 50 feet from a septic tank and 50 feet from the absorption area of a typical soil dispersal system or a privy. Sensitive wells need more: 100 feet from the absorption area or privy. Distances are measured from the top of the well casing. A coliform and nitrate test shows whether nearby septic components are reaching the water.
How common is arsenic in Minnesota well water?
The Department of Health says about 40 percent of Minnesota wells have arsenic in the water. It occurs naturally in rocks and soil, levels can differ between wells even within a small area, and you cannot taste, see, or smell it. The EPA limit for community water systems is 10 micrograms per liter. Only a lab test shows the arsenic level in a specific well.
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