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Well Water Testing · Bussey, IA

Water testing in Bussey

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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Bussey · Marion County

Well Water Testing in Bussey

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.

Bussey is a former Marion County coal town of miners' housing above worked-out shafts. Housing here runs to early-1900s coal-era housing built for mine families, with postwar and later additions, across the 1875 town grid along the old Albia, Knoxville & Des Moines line and the mine ground east and north of town.

Bussey homes are inspected by a local partner in our Iowa network.  ·  Call or text (563) 517-7815

Well water in Marion County

Marion County has no county-specific private well results in the sources we reviewed, so general Iowa guidance applies. The Iowa DNR lists coliform bacteria and nitrate as annual tests and arsenic as a test every 3 years, with at least one arsenic test for every well. The Iowa Geological Survey describes Mississippian bedrock as giving smaller yields of poorer quality water in central and southeastern Iowa, but we did not confirm which Marion wells draw from it.

County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, iowadnr.gov, igs.iihr.uiowa.edu, naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu.

Well water around Bussey, Marion County

Bussey, IA water testing: well cap near a gravel driveway in Iowa autumn color
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →
Well cap by a split-rail fence in Iowa winter snow (Marion County, Iowa)
Coliform bacteria: Iowa DNR recommends testing every year →

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

Water tests available in Bussey

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.

Bussey 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 Bussey

  • 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 Bussey: 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.
What does the state say about water from bedrock wells in central Iowa?
The Iowa Geological Survey says the Mississippian aquifer, limestone and dolomite with some sandstone and gypsum, produces much smaller yields of poorer quality water in central and southeastern Iowa than in the north-central part. That is regional, not a Marion County measurement, so the only way to know a specific well is to test it.
Should a Bussey buyer be concerned about old coal mines under the property?
It deserves a check, not alarm. Jesse Bussey laid the town out in 1875 and it became a genuine coal hub — the Powers Company ran two shafts with a private tramway in the early 1890s, and the O.K. Mine was Marion County's largest producer from 1895 to about 1902, in a county with 400-plus registered mines between 1860 and 1967. Iowa DNR publishes a public coal-mines map you can check by address, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship runs a subsidence program. Foundations are worth reading for the differential movement that matters.
Do I need a permit to drill or replace a private well?
Yes. Under 567 IAC 49.3(3) and Iowa Code 455B.187(2), a landowner cannot construct a new private well without first getting a well construction permit from DNR or a county with delegated authority. A permit is also required for replacement wells and for changes to a well's physical dimensions. The permit requires construction by a certified well contractor, and it is not transferable and expires one calendar year after issuance. A new or replaced well should be tested, and Iowa's rules call for a water sample 10 to 30 days after a new or reconstructed well goes into service.
Is nitrate in well water dangerous for infants?
Yes. The State Hygienic Laboratory says nitrate above 10 mg/L as N may pose a serious health hazard for infants, and such water should not be used in infant formula or juice. Infants fed it can develop methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, a life-threatening illness. Boiling does not remove nitrate. Shallow wells and poorly located, built or maintained wells are more likely to have nitrate, so annual testing is the way to know. A nitrate test is the only way to learn whether the water at a home with young children is below the 10 mg/L limit.
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