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Well Water Testing · Gowrie, IA

Water testing in Gowrie

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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Gowrie · Webster County

Well Water Testing in Gowrie

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.

Gowrie is a Swedish-settled rail town of older homes on flat tiled prairie. Housing here runs to older Swedish-settled rail-town homes, across the town core.

Gowrie is served by our Fort Dodge team →  ·  (563) 517-7815

Well water in Webster County

Private wells in Webster County are the owner's responsibility to test. Iowa DNR recommends that all private well owners test at least annually, with coliform bacteria and nitrate checked each year, and arsenic tested at least once. DNR also notes that nitrate, arsenic, and other contaminants occur naturally in some aquifers, and that shallow groundwater is more exposed to surface contaminants. DNR also recommends at least one lead test for private water systems. Published county-level well results were not found for Webster County, so testing your own well is the only way to know what is in it.

County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, iowadnr.gov.

Private wells and water systems around Gowrie

Gowrie, IA water testing: well cap in the foreground, farmhouse with a windmill behind it in rural Iowa in summer
E. coli: a sign of fecal contamination →
Well cap in the foreground, farmhouse at the end of a tree-lined drive behind it in rural Iowa in spring green (Webster County, Iowa)
VOCs: fuels, solvents and degreasers →
Gowrie, IA water testing: well cap in the side yard of a Iowa farmhouse with a red barn in summer
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →

Home inspection in Gowrie →  ·  Water testing in Iowa, explained →

Water tests available in Gowrie

Bacteria

Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.

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. Compare your lab results with these values.

Gowrie 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

When to test your water

  • Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well.
  • At least onceArsenic and manganese. Iowa DNR's testing list repeats arsenic every 3 years.
  • Before a baby drinks the waterNitrate. Water above 10 mg/L as nitrogen should not be used for infant formula or juice.
  • When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
  • New well or well workWhen a well is new and after service on the well or pump.
  • After a flood or power outageIf flood water was near or reached the well, or an outage dropped the water pressure.
  • When taste, color or smell changesA change in the water is a reason to test.
  • Near a fuel tankVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and fuel oil. Iowa DNR names gasoline among the VOCs some wells are susceptible to, and Iowa's well rules list 100 feet between a well and a liquid fuel storage tank other than propane.
  • City water in an older homeLead. Iowa DNR says homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder.

Based on: Iowa DNR private wells, Iowa DNR testing frequency, Iowa DNR why test, Iowa DNR floods, State Hygienic Laboratory, 567 IAC 49.

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 far a well must be from common hazards in Gowrie

  • 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 Gowrie: 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.
My home is on city water in Iowa. Is water testing still worth it?
Often, yes. Lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing. Iowa DNR says a water system cannot control the materials used in home plumbing. Your utility sends a Consumer Confidence Report each year. Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule, utilities sample selected homes, those more likely to have lead plumbing. Iowa community water systems had to prepare a lead service line inventory under the federal rule, and it must be publicly available. DNR expects homes built after 1988 to have service lines made of something other than lead. To learn what your service line is made of, ask your water utility. DNR also notes that utilities are not required to offer lead testing on request. EPA says testing is the only sure way to know whether harmful amounts of lead are in your water.
When is the best time to test a Webster County well?
Iowa DNR recommends testing at least annually, and also whenever the well is new, after well, pump, or water system service, after a power outage that causes a loss of water pressure, or when the water looks, smells, or tastes different. Keeping a consistent yearly schedule makes changes in results easier to spot.
Do you cover Gowrie?
Yes — southwest Webster County is in range. The rail-era stock runs old, so services, chimneys and foundations get dated precisely, and the tiled-prairie ground keeps grading and basement moisture on every list.
Do I need a permit to drill or replace a private well?
Yes. Under 567 IAC 49.3(3) and Iowa Code 455B.187(2), a landowner cannot construct a new private well without first getting a well construction permit from DNR or a county with delegated authority. A permit is also required for replacement wells and for changes to a well's physical dimensions. The permit requires construction by a certified well contractor, and it is not transferable and expires one calendar year after issuance. A new or replaced well should be tested, and Iowa's rules call for a water sample 10 to 30 days after a new or reconstructed well goes into service.
How often should a private well be tested in Iowa?
Iowa DNR recommends every private well used for drinking be tested at least once a year. Coliform bacteria and nitrate are annual tests. Also test when a well is new, after the well, pump or water system is serviced, after a power outage that drops water pressure, and when the water changes in appearance, smell or taste. Arsenic is listed every 3 years on the DNR page, and at least once for every well. Annual coliform and nitrate results show whether a well has changed since the last sample, which is the point of testing when buying a home.
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