Reports within 24 hours · Get your free instant quote
Certified Master Inspector sealCloser Look InspectorsStatewide Minnesota & IowaFree Instant Quote
Well Water Testing · Lauderdale, MN

Water testing in Lauderdale

Water testing for Minnesota homes, above all those on a private well. An accredited laboratory tests the water for coliform bacteria and E. coli…

Get Your Free Instant QuoteSee What's Included
Lauderdale · Ramsey County

Well Water Testing in Lauderdale

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.

Lauderdale is a 0.42-square-mile inner-ring suburb between Minneapolis and St. Paul, incorporated in 1949. Housing here runs to older single-family houses and small apartment buildings, packed into a city of 0.42 sq. mi. with 1,215 housing units, across the blocks along Highway 280, the Luther Seminary edge, and the borders with Minneapolis, St. Paul, Roseville and Falcon Heights.

Lauderdale is served by our Saint Paul team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well cap in the foreground, ranch home on acreage behind it on the southwestern Minnesota prairie in spring green: well water testing in Lauderdale, MN
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →

Well water in Ramsey County

MDA's township testing schedule lists no Ramsey County report, so there is no county nitrate percentage to quote. Private wells in the county are not covered by any MDA township sample, which means a well's quality is known only from its own test. MDH recommends that private well owners test for coliform bacteria every year, nitrate every year, and arsenic and lead at least once, using an accredited laboratory. A dated lab report is the only reliable way to know what is in a specific well.

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

Well cap in the foreground, newer two-story home on a rural lot behind it on the southwestern Minnesota prairie in winter snow: well water testing in Lauderdale, MN
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →

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

Water tests available in Lauderdale

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.

Lauderdale 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.

Get Your Free Instant Quote

Buying a home with a well in Lauderdale: 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

How far a well must be from common hazards in Lauderdale

  • 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

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.
Is there county nitrate data for private wells in Ramsey County?
No. MDA's township testing schedule lists no Ramsey County report, so there is no county nitrate rate to quote. For a private well, the useful number is your own result. MDH recommends an accredited laboratory, with coliform checked yearly, nitrate every year, and arsenic and lead 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.
What is the biggest thing to check in a Lauderdale house, given how small and dense the city is?
Lauderdale is 0.42 sq. mi. with 1,215 housing units, and it was called Rose Hill before incorporating as a village in 1949. That density means a mix of older single-family houses and apartment buildings sharing lot lines and utility corridors. Sewer service lines are often very old clay or cast iron, and grading toward neighbors, shared or aged retaining walls, basement moisture, and electrical panels in houses converted to rentals are worth a look too. Ramsey County is EPA Radon Zone 1.
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.
Why are abandoned or unused wells dangerous?
The Department of Health lists two kinds of risk. Children and small animals can fall into an open well, and equipment can break through a crumbling well or well pit. An unused well can also act like a drain, giving surface runoff, contaminated water, or waste a direct path into drinking water sources, including your own well. Annual water testing is one way to watch for contamination, as the Department of Health recommends testing annually where unused wells exist.
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.
Keep looking

More across Minnesota.

Well Water Testing nearby

Other inspections in Lauderdale

Questions about well water testing

In-depth guides

Free instant quote

Build your quote in 30 seconds.

No phone tag, no callback delay. Price and book your inspection right here — it takes about 30 seconds and there is no obligation.

Free Instant Quote & SchedulerPowered by InspectorData
Free Instant Quote