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Well Water Testing · Credit River, MN

Water testing in Credit River

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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Credit River · Scott County

Well Water Testing in Credit River

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.

Credit River is a Scott County acreage city that grew out of a township organized in 1858. Housing here runs to newer acreage and subdivision homes, with older farmsteads and farmhouses between them, across the rural acreage neighborhoods and farm parcels across a city of about 23 square miles, along the Credit River.

Credit River is served by our Eagan team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well water in Scott County

MDA's 2018 township testing in Scott County covered Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek and St. Lawrence townships, with 1.4% of the 488 tested wells (7 wells) at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen health standard. That is a low township-scale rate. MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells have arsenic above 10 ug/L, so it recommends one test. It lists coliform yearly, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

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

Private wells and water systems around Credit River

Credit River, MN water testing: farmhouse sink with a brass faucet in a 1960s Minnesota kitchen
Lead: MDH says no level is safe →
Glass of ice water on a windowsill in a Minnesota farmhouse kitchen (Scott County, Minnesota)
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →

See all Credit River inspections →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Water tests available in Credit River

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.

Credit River 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.

Nitrate in Scott County wells

1.4%

1.4% of 488 wells tested in Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek and St. Lawrence townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2018).

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 long a private well lasts in Credit River

0255075100+ years
25 to 50 years is common
100+ possible

Wells built before 1974, when Minnesota's well code began, are listed by MDH as higher risk for bacteria, along with leaking dug wells, wells in old frost pits and wells with corroded casings.

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

Wells built before 1974 often have no record on file. Test the water before you close. Get a free instant quote

Buying a home with a well in Credit River: 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

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.
What did MDA find in Scott County wells?
In 2018 initial testing of four townships (Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek, St. Lawrence), 1.4% of the 488 wells tested were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate health standard.Coliform bacteria and E. coli are the pass-fail items lenders and buyers ask about first.
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.
Credit River became a city in 2021 — is there anything new-construction buyers should know?
Yes. Credit River was organized as a township in 1858 and incorporated as a city in 2021, and its 23-plus square miles hold many rural subdivisions and acreages. Newer homes here are on well and septic more often than city services. Grading and drainage, window and deck flashing, stucco or siding installation, basement moisture, and visible septic components are worth attention. Well flow and pressure equipment are worth attention as well.
Should I test for E. coli when buying a house with a well?
A bacteria test is a standard way to check a private well, and CDC advises well owners to test for coliform bacteria and E. coli. Results reflect the day of sampling, and an accredited laboratory analyzes the sample. A positive result can be addressed through disinfection, retesting, and inspection of the well.
Can you taste or smell VOCs in drinking water?
Not reliably. MDH notes that most contaminants in well water cannot be tasted, smelled, or seen, so testing is the only way to know what is in the water. Do not rely on odor to rule out a problem, particularly after a nearby fuel spill or when buying a home.
How deep are private wells in Minnesota, and what kind of aquifer do they use?
The Department of Health's Well Owner's Handbook says Minnesota wells range from 15 feet to over 1,000 feet deep. Most draw from sand and gravel deposited by glaciers. Southeastern and east central wells, including the Twin Cities area, often draw from sandstone and limestone, while northeastern wells often use fractured rock such as granite. Depth and geology vary even between neighbors, so a test of your own well is the way to know your water.
How can I tell if there is a forgotten well on my property?
The Department of Health suggests looking for a pipe 1 to 8 inches wide at, above, or below the surface, a low spot or sunken area, a metal, wood, or concrete cover, a windmill or old well house, and a concrete patch or glass block in a basement step or floor. Well pits and basement offsets are other common signs. Visible signs like these are worth raising with your agent and a licensed well contractor.
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