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Well Water Testing · Long Prairie, MN

Water testing in Long Prairie

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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Long Prairie · Todd County

Well Water Testing in Long Prairie

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.

Long Prairie is a county-seat town of older homes in the Long Prairie River valley. Housing here runs to older county-seat housing, across the river-valley core.

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

Well water in Todd County

MDA's 2016 township testing in Todd County covered nine vulnerable townships and 797 tested wells, and 5.0% were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen health standard. Township rates ranged from 0.0% in Burleene to 8.5% in Hartford, with single wells reading as high as 42.9 mg/L. That is a township-scale sample, so your own well can differ. MDH lists coliform yearly, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once, and says arsenic is more common in central Minnesota.

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

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

Water tests available in Long Prairie

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.

Long Prairie 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 Long Prairie: what matters

Long Prairie, MN water testing: well cap in the front lawn of a Minnesota rambler on acreage in autumn
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Twin Cities suburban home with a front lawn and a fire hydrant at the curb in summer (Todd County, Minnesota)
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →
Long Prairie, MN water testing: prior Lake style lake home with a dock on a clear lake in autumn color
Lead: MDH says no level is safe →

Nitrate in Todd County wells

5%

5% of 797 wells tested in nine vulnerable townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2016).

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 deep Long Prairie 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 Long Prairie 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.
How common is high nitrate in Todd County private wells?
In MDA's 2016 initial results, 5.0% of 797 wells in nine Todd County townships were at or over 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen, with township rates from 0.0% to 8.5%. Those are sampled townships, not every property. A nitrate result from an accredited lab on your own well shows where it stands; MDH lists nitrate every other year.
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.
Do you cover Long Prairie?
Yes — the county seat's older homes get a careful read on original systems and river-adjacent basement moisture.
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.
How do you get rid of VOCs in well water?
MDH advises first removing the source of contamination or using a safer water supply. If that is not possible, home treatment may be appropriate, and some technologies can reduce VOCs depending on the filter media. Choose a certified unit, use a licensed plumber or water conditioning contractor, and retest after installation.
Who regulates private wells in Minnesota, and who is responsible for the water?
The Department of Health licenses the contractors who construct, repair, and seal regulated wells, and administers the Well Code, Minnesota Rules chapter 4725. For an existing private well, the Department of Health says the owner is responsible for regularly testing the water and keeping it safe. Licensed contractors must file well records, and since 1974 the Department of Health has required submittal of well construction records. Water testing arranged by the owner fills that gap.
How can I tell if there is a forgotten well on my property?
The Department of Health suggests looking for a pipe 1 to 8 inches wide at, above, or below the surface, a low spot or sunken area, a metal, wood, or concrete cover, a windmill or old well house, and a concrete patch or glass block in a basement step or floor. Well pits and basement offsets are other common signs. Visible signs like these are worth raising with your agent and a licensed well contractor.
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