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Well Water Testing · Houston, MN

Water testing in Houston

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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Houston · Houston County

Well Water Testing in Houston

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.

Houston is a small Root River valley town tucked between wooded limestone bluffs. Housing here runs to older homes on the valley floor, across the Root River valley core.

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

Well cap in the foreground, lake home with a sloping lawn behind it on a Minnesota lake in winter snow: well water testing in Houston, MN
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →

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.

Well cap in the foreground, cabin with a stone chimney behind it on a Minnesota lake in spring green: well water testing in Houston, MN
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →

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

Water tests available in Houston

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.

Houston 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.

How long a private well lasts in Houston

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 Houston: 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 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 Houston?
Valley-floor towns on the Root River carry flood history, so grading, sump systems and past high-water evidence are items that matter alongside the older housing stock.
What tests go along with DRO?
MPCA guidance describes DRO and GRO as informing follow-up testing for volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Those individual chemical results are what get compared with MDH health-based guidance values. Ask an accredited laboratory which package fits your situation.
Can I boil well water that tested positive for coliform?
MDH says boiled or bottled water can be used for drinking and cooking until the problem is fixed. However, do not boil the water if nitrate or arsenic was also detected, because boiling can increase their concentration. In that case use bottled water or another safe source until the well is treated and retested.
Does a new well get tested for arsenic?
Yes. Minnesota Rules 4725.5650 requires the person constructing a new potable well to have a sample collected within 30 days, before the well is used, and analyzed for total coliform bacteria, nitrate-nitrogen, and arsenic. The Department of Health says contractors have tested new wells for arsenic since August 2008, and recommends owners test at least once beyond that initial test. A follow-up arsenic test gives a second data point, and MDH suggests retesting about six months after construction if arsenic was detected.
What should I look for on a well cap?
The Department of Health asks owners to check whether the well cap is securely attached, broken, or missing, whether the casing has cracks, holes, or corrosion, and whether electrical conduit and other connections are watertight. Under Minnesota Rules 4725.5450, a vent must be screened with openings of 1/16 inch or less and point downward. A damaged cap or vent is a good reason to test for coliform bacteria.
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