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Well Water Testing · Elk River, MN

Water testing in Elk 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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Elk River · Sherburne County

Well Water Testing in Elk 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 year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

Elk River is a Mississippi River city of newer subdivisions on sandy outwash soils. Housing here runs to newer subdivisions on sandy Mississippi outwash, across the river-side subdivisions and the older core.

Elk River is served by our Big Lake team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well water in Sherburne County

In MDA's township testing of six Sherburne townships sampled in 2014 and 2015, 7.5% of the 1,993 wells in the final dataset were at or over the 10 mg/L limit. Clear Lake and Haven townships topped 10%, and township results ran from 5.3% to 13.8%. Big Lake was 5.5%. Central Minnesota also has the highest arsenic-detection shares in new wells, per MDH, and MDH puts central counties among those with more homes on wells at increased nitrate risk.coli, nitrate, arsenic, lead, manganese, iron, hardness, pH, fluoride, sulfate, uranium, VOCs and DRO (diesel range organics) through an accredited lab.

County facts checked September 2026 against: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health, mda.state.mn.us, co.sherburne.mn.us, mndata.web.health.state.mn.us.

Home inspection in Elk River →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Pairs well with:

Septic inspection in Elk RiverRadon testing in Elk RiverSewer scope in Elk River

Water tests available in Elk 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. Compare your lab results with these values.

Elk River 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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Private wells and water systems around Elk River

Elk River, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, small cabin behind it in southeastern Minnesota bluff country in autumn color
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in the foreground, older brick country home behind it in southeastern Minnesota bluff country in summer (Sherburne County, Minnesota)
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →
Elk River, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, modern farmhouse with black windows behind it in southeastern Minnesota bluff country in spring green
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →

Nitrate in Sherburne County wells

7.5%

7.5% of 1,993 wells tested in six townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2014-2015).

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 Elk River

  • 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 Elk River 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 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.
Which Sherburne County townships had the highest nitrate?
MDA's 2014 and 2015 sampling found Haven at 13.8% and Clear Lake at 11.3% of wells at or over the 10 mg/L limit, the only townships above 10%. Becker, Big Lake, Palmer and Santiago were between 5.3% and 8.6%. Countywide the final figure was 7.5%. Testing the specific well is still the only way to know.
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.
Why is radon testing especially worth it in Elk River?
Sandy outwash is permeable, so soil gas moves through it easily and into basements. Sherburne County sits in EPA Radon Zone 1, where more than two in five Minnesota homes test above the action level — and only a 48-hour test gives you the actual number for that house.
Is nitrate in well water dangerous for babies?
Yes, it can be. Nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, which reduces how well blood carries oxygen. Bottle-fed babies under six months are at highest risk. If nitrate is above 10 mg/L, MDH says to use bottled water or another safe source for infant formula.
How do I get rid of E. coli in my well?
Disinfect the well with a chlorine solution, either through a licensed well contractor or by following the MDH well disinfection instructions. Then have an accredited lab retest the water before you drink it. MDH suggests testing again two to four weeks later, and a contractor can look for the entry point if it returns.
What is nitrate and why does it matter for babies?
The EPA standard for nitrate in drinking water is 10 mg/L (as nitrogen). The Department of Health says bottle-fed babies under six months old are at highest risk of methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, which can be serious. Nitrate cannot be tasted, smelled, or seen, and boiling makes it more concentrated. If an infant will drink the water, a nitrate test is the way to know where the well stands.
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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