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Well Water Testing · Cannon Falls, MN

Water testing in Cannon Falls

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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Cannon Falls · Goodhue County

Well Water Testing in Cannon Falls

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.

Cannon Falls is a Cannon River town of historic homes and newer development. Housing here runs to historic river-town homes with newer development, across the historic river core and the newer edges.

Cannon Falls is served by our Faribault team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well water in Goodhue County

MDA tested all 22 Goodhue County townships in 2017, because of the complexity of the county's karst geology. Of 2,071 wells, 10.4% were at or above 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen in the initial dataset, which includes wells with construction problems and non-fertilizer sources. Township rates ranged from 0% in Red Wing City and Wacouta to 30.0% in Goodhue Township and 27.0% in Vasa. Because rates differ this much between neighboring townships, MDA's county figure cannot stand in for your own well.

County facts checked October 2026 against: mda.state.mn.us, mda.state.mn.us.

See all Cannon Falls inspections →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Water tests available in Cannon Falls

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.

Cannon Falls 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.

Private wells and water systems around Cannon Falls

Cannon Falls, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, dairy barn and farmhouse behind it in rural Minnesota in autumn color
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Well cap in the foreground, farmhouse with a vegetable garden behind it in rural Minnesota in winter snow (Goodhue County, Minnesota)
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →
Cannon Falls, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, machine shed and farmhouse behind it in rural Minnesota in spring green
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →

Nitrate in Goodhue County wells

10.4%

10.4% of 2,071 wells tested in all 22 townships (initial dataset only; no final figure stated) were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2017).

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 Cannon Falls

  • 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 Cannon Falls 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.
Is well water nitrate a problem across Goodhue County?
It varies by township. MDA's 2017 testing of 2,071 wells found 10.4% at or above 10 mg/L overall, but Goodhue Township was 30.0% and Vasa 27.0%, while Red Wing City and Wacouta were 0%. Those are initial results, so only a test of your well answers it.
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.
What differs between old and new Cannon Falls homes?
The historic core is century-old river housing with original systems and stone foundations; the newer development is a grading and build-quality read. Bluff-edge lots in either case make drainage the deciding factor.
What does DRO mean in a water test?
DRO means diesel range organics. In Minnesota petroleum cleanup work, MPCA runs DRO and gasoline range organics (GRO) as part of the investigation to determine whether a water plume is a mixture of petroleum products. It is a screening and investigative result, not a measure of health risk.
How do you get rid of coliform bacteria in a well?
The usual method is shock chlorination, also called well disinfection. A licensed well contractor can do it, or owners can follow the MDH well disinfection instructions. Afterward, have an accredited lab retest the water. MDH suggests retesting again about two to four weeks later because coliform can regrow, and repeating disinfection if it returns.
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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