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Well Water Testing · Hokah, MN

Water testing in Hokah

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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Hokah · Houston County

Well Water Testing in Hokah

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.

Hokah is a small town at the mouth of the Root River beneath steep bluffs. Housing here runs to older homes at the Root River mouth, across the valley core beneath the bluffs.

Questions about a Hokah home?  ·  Call or text (612) 457-1634

Well water in Houston County

MDA tested 10 Houston County townships in 2018: Black Hammer, Caledonia, Houston, Mayville, Money Creek, Sheldon, Spring Grove, Union, Wilmington and Winnebago. In the final results, as reported by the Fillmore County Journal, five townships had 10% or more of tested wells above the 10 mg/L nitrate health limit: Black Hammer, Caledonia, Mayville, Spring Grove and Wilmington. MDH says surface water in southeast Minnesota's karst can reach groundwater in hours or days.

County facts checked October 2026 against: fillmorecountyjournal.com, mda.state.mn.us, Minnesota Department of Health.

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

Water tests available in Hokah

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.

Hokah 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.

Water testing in Hokah: what matters

Hokah, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, newer two-story home on a rural lot behind it in the northern Minnesota pine woods in summer
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in the foreground, 1970s rambler behind it in the northern Minnesota pine woods in autumn color (Houston County, Minnesota)
VOCs: fuels, solvents and degreasers →
Hokah, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, modern farmhouse with black windows behind it in the northern Minnesota pine woods in winter snow
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →

How deep Hokah wells go

15 ftsand and gravel (most wells)sandstone and limestone (SE and east central, incl. Twin Cities)1,000+ ft · fractured rock such as granite (NE)
Source: MDH Well Owner's Handbook

Depth and aquifer change what is in the water. Test the well you are buying, not the neighbor's. Get a free instant quote

Arsenic in Hokah 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 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.
Which Houston County townships had elevated well nitrate?
MDA's final Houston County results, as reported by the Fillmore County Journal, put five townships at 10% or more of wells over 10 mg/L: Black Hammer, Caledonia, Mayville, Spring Grove and Wilmington. Five others were lower. That is township-scale data, so a well test is still needed.
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.
Is flooding a factor in Hokah?
River-mouth ground makes flood history, grading and basement moisture the items to read carefully — and bluff runoff adds to it.
What are VOCs in well water?
VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are a group of organic chemicals found in products such as paints, solvents, pesticides, and petroleum products. EPA notes they can reach private wells through waste disposal, spills, and runoff. A laboratory test is the only way to find out whether any are in your well.
What is the safe level of arsenic in drinking water?
The EPA standard is 10 µg/L, equal to 10 parts per billion, though the EPA health goal is 0. MDH highly recommends taking action if a private well is above 10 µg/L, and notes that levels below the standard can still increase cancer risk over many years.
How do I find the construction record for my well?
The Minnesota Well Index (MWI), maintained by the Department of Health, is an online database of basic well and boring information that can be searched by map or text. It is the web version of the County Well Index developed with the Minnesota Geological Survey. Most wells built before 1974 will not have records on file. Knowing the construction date helps decide what to test for.
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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