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Well Water Testing · Murray, IA

Water testing in Murray

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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Murray · Clarke County

Well Water Testing in Murray

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.

Murray is a western Clarke County town laid out in 1868 as Oakland when the Burlington and Missouri River Rail Road came through, incorporated in 1880 on the Mormon Trail route. Housing here runs to houses from the railroad decades after 1868, a peak of 949 residents in 1900, and a sizable stock of postwar and later homes, across the older residential streets around Maple and Sherman Streets, Mallory Park and the Mormon Trail exhibit.

Murray homes are inspected by a local partner in our Iowa network.  ·  Call or text (563) 517-7815

Well water in Clarke County

We found no Clarke County well-quality figures in the pages we opened. State guidance still applies: the Iowa DNR recommends testing for coliform bacteria and nitrate yearly and for arsenic at least once, and points owners to their county health department for free basic testing under the Grants to Counties program. The Iowa Geological Survey's Dakota aquifer study, which did not name its counties in the text we read, found water generally fair to poor, with iron usually above the EPA recommended level.

County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, iowadnr.gov, igs.iihr.uiowa.edu, naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu.

See all Murray inspections →  ·  Water testing in Iowa, explained →

Water tests available in Murray

Bacteria

Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.

  • Total coliform bacteria
    Surface contamination reaching the well
  • E. coli
    Fecal contamination from septic, manure or wildlife

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. Your lab report compares each result to the standards that apply.

Murray 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

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 far a well must be from common hazards in Murray

  • 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 Murray: 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.
Does Clarke County have special well-water problems?
We could not find Clarke County data, so we will not claim any. The Iowa Geological Survey's Dakota aquifer study, which covers a 16-county area it did not name in the text we read, found water quality generally fair to poor, with sulfate often above the 250 mg/L EPA recommended maximum. Testing your own well is the only way to know.
Murray was laid out in 1868 and peaked at 949 residents in 1900. What should I look at in a house from those early railroad decades?
Age is the main concern, so original foundations, floor framing and sags, older roofs and flashing, windows, chimneys, and how the house has been added to over the years all deserve a close look, since additions often tie into the original structure in odd ways. In the basement, walls for stepped cracks, efflorescence and moisture are worth checking, and outside, where roof water and downspouts discharge and whether grade falls away from the foundation matter. Ask the seller what has been updated and what records exist. Clarke County is EPA Radon Zone 1, so a radon test belongs in the basement review, and a private septic system needs the time-of-transfer inspection under Iowa Code 455B.172.
What is the Iowa Groundwater Hazard Statement?
Under Iowa Code 558.69, a groundwater hazard statement must be submitted with the declaration of value when property is conveyed, if any listed condition exists. It covers known private burial sites, wells and their status under section 455B.190, hazardous solid waste disposal sites, underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, and private sewage disposal systems. A seller or agent signs it, and the buyer must be given a copy. A well disclosed on the statement is a reason to have the water tested and the wellhead looked at before closing.
What is the arsenic limit, and can I boil it out?
The Iowa and U.S. EPA health standard for arsenic in drinking water is 0.010 mg/L, or 10 parts per billion. Boiling does not remove arsenic. The State Hygienic Laboratory lists distillation, reverse osmosis, activated alumina and anionic resin as treatments, and suggests testing arsenic speciation to choose the most effective option. If a test is elevated, DNR says you may need to test more often. A buyer who tests the well before closing knows whether arsenic treatment is a consideration for the property.
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