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Well Water Testing · Diagonal, IA

Water testing in Diagonal

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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Diagonal · Ringgold County

Well Water Testing in Diagonal

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.

Diagonal is a northwest Ringgold County town named for the diagonal crossing of two railroads, built after Goshen relocated to the crossing in 1889. Housing here runs to houses from the 1889 move and the railroad decades that followed, a stock built toward the town's 1940 peak of 603 residents, and later postwar and newer homes, across the townsite at the old railroad crossing, east of which the Grand River flows, and the farm ground and acreages around it.

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

Well water in Ringgold County

No Ringgold County well-testing results were found. A 2009 Senate press release says Southern Iowa Rural Water Association was funded for a water tower and booster station serving customers in Taylor and Ringgold Counties, so some rural homes may be on a rural water system rather than a private well; confirm with the association. For homes on private wells, Iowa DNR recommends annual bacteria and nitrate tests and at least one arsenic test.

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

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

Water tests available in Diagonal

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.

Diagonal 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 Diagonal

  • 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 Diagonal: 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.
Do Ringgold County rural homes use private wells or rural water?
Both may exist. A 2009 press release says Southern Iowa Rural Water Association received funding for a tower and booster station serving customers in Taylor and Ringgold Counties. We did not find a current service map, so check with the association about an address. If you do have a private well, Iowa DNR recommends yearly bacteria and nitrate testing.
Some of Diagonal's first buildings were moved from Goshen in 1889. What should I look for in a house that may have been moved or heavily altered?
Moved or altered buildings can have foundations that are newer than the framing above them, so how the structure sits on its footings, cracks or settlement, uneven floors and doors that stick are the signs to look for. The sill and floor framing for rot, the tie-in of any additions, and the electrical and plumbing for patchwork from different decades are worth checking. Outside, grade and downspouts matter, since foundation water is the usual cause of the damage seen in houses like these. If there is a private septic system, Iowa Code 455B.172 requires its inspection before transfer. Ringgold County is EPA Radon Zone 1, so we recommend a radon test.
What does Iowa say about the wellhead itself?
Under 567 IAC 49.17, a well not in a wellhouse needs a cap that seals tightly against the casing, and the casing must terminate at least one foot above finished grade. A cap on a well with a pitless adapter needs a screened vent at least 12 inches above the ground. Section 49.8 says wells cannot be located in basements or in frost pits. These are the construction rules for new wells. Cap, casing height and drainage around the wellhead are visible items covered in a home inspection, and a bacteria test shows whether they are doing their job.
Who is allowed to do well work in Iowa?
Iowa requires well services to be done by a DNR-certified well contractor who is on site and in direct charge of the work, under 567 IAC 82.2(1) and 49.4(3). The one exception is that a person may perform well services on their own property. DNR certifies well drillers, pump installers and well plugging contractors, and they have different scopes. You can check a contractor's status on DNR's lists. A home inspector or tester does not do licensed well work; testing and a visual check of the wellhead help decide whether to call a certified contractor.
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