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Well Water Testing · Eden Prairie, MN

Water testing in Eden Prairie

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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Eden Prairie · Hennepin County

Well Water Testing in Eden Prairie

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 year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

Eden Prairie is a lake-dotted southwest suburb of 1980s-2000s homes among preserved natural areas. Housing here runs to 1980s-2000s homes among preserved natural areas, across the lake-dotted subdivisions and wooded preserves.

Eden Prairie is served by our Minnetonka team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well water in Hennepin County

Hennepin County has no MDA township nitrate report on the schedule page, so there is no county well percentage to cite. MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells have arsenic above 10 ug/L, with levels varying over short distances, and that shallow and sand-aquifer wells are most exposed to nitrate. Boiling does not remove nitrate; it concentrates it. MDH lists coliform yearly, nitrate every year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

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

Private wells and water systems around Eden Prairie

Eden Prairie, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, farmhouse behind it in central Minnesota lake country in winter snow
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Well cap in the foreground, older brick country home behind it on the southwestern Minnesota prairie in autumn color (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Eden Prairie, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, split-level home on a wooded lot behind it in central Minnesota lake country in summer
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →

Home inspection in Eden Prairie →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Water tests available in Eden Prairie

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. Compare your lab results with these values.

Eden Prairie private well testing timeline

Minnesota Department of Health schedule: coliform bacteria and nitrate every year, arsenic and lead at least once. Source: MDH
TestYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6
Coliform bacteria
Nitrate
Arsenic
Lead

When to test your water

  • Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well. Nitrate can come from fertilizer, septic systems and animal waste.
  • At least onceArsenic and lead. Arsenic can differ even between neighboring wells.
  • Before a baby drinks the waterColiform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead and manganese. MDH recommends testing a private well for all five before a baby drinks the water.
  • When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
  • After flooding or well workFlooding and repairs to the well are reasons to test again.
  • When taste, color or smell changesMDH says a change in taste, smell or look is a reason to test for coliform bacteria.
  • Near a fuel tank or industrial siteVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and heating oil. MDH says to consider a VOC test if the well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area.
  • City water in an older homeLead. MDH says homes built before 1940 may have lead service lines, and plumbing parts made before 1986 may contain lead.

Based on: MDH well testing, MDH coliform bacteria, MDH nitrate, MDH water for babies, MDH flood precautions, MDH lead.

How to get it done

  1. Choose your testsPick the water testing you need in the free instant quote.
  2. Pick a timeBook online. The quote takes about 30 seconds.
  3. Get certified lab resultsA certified laboratory analyzes the water and reports each result.

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How long a private well lasts in Eden Prairie

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 Eden Prairie: 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 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.
Do Hennepin County homes with private wells need arsenic testing?
MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells exceed 10 ug/L arsenic and that it can vary a lot between nearby wells, so it advises testing at least once.
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 Eden Prairie?
Yes — the late-century homes here often need attention to grading, decks and aging mechanicals.
What is the safe level of nitrate in drinking water in Minnesota?
The EPA standard is 10 mg/L of nitrate measured as nitrogen, equal to 10 parts per million. It is based on protecting infants from blue baby syndrome. Natural processes usually keep drinking water below 3 mg/L, so higher results often point to a human-made source near the well.
Is E. coli in well water dangerous?
It can be. CDC says most E. coli is harmless but some types cause serious illness, and a standard lab test does not identify the dangerous types. Because a positive result points to fecal contamination, treat the water as unsafe to drink until the well is disinfected and retested negative.
How far must a well be from a lake, stream, or pond?
The minimum horizontal distance between a water-supply well and the ordinary high water level of a stream, river, pond, stormwater retention pond, or lake is 35 feet (Minnesota Rules 4725.4350). The distance does not apply to areas protected by a FEMA-accepted flood control structure, to wetlands, ditches, or depressions holding water under six months a year, or to artificial ponds under 5,000 gallons. If the wellhead is close to surface water, a coliform test is a reasonable check of how the water is holding up.
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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