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Well Water Testing · New Prague, MN

Water testing in New Prague

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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New Prague · Scott County

Well Water Testing in New Prague

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.

New Prague is a Czech-heritage city of older homes and newer development. Housing here runs to a Czech-heritage core with substantial newer development, across the historic core and the newer subdivisions.

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

Farmhouse sink with a brass faucet in a Minnesota farmhouse kitchen: well water testing in New Prague, MN
Lead: MDH says no level is safe →

Well water in Scott County

MDA's 2018 township testing in Scott County covered Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek and St. Lawrence townships, with 1.4% of the 488 tested wells (7 wells) at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen health standard. That is a low township-scale rate. MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells have arsenic above 10 ug/L, so it recommends one test. It lists coliform yearly, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

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

Well cap beside a garden bed in Minnesota summer: well water testing in New Prague, MN
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →

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

Water tests available in New Prague

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.

New Prague 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.

Nitrate in Scott County wells

1.4%

1.4% of 488 wells tested in Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek and St. Lawrence townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2018).

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

Arsenic in New Prague 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

How long a private well lasts in New Prague

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

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.
What did MDA find in Scott County wells?
In 2018 initial testing of four townships (Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek, St. Lawrence), 1.4% of the 488 wells tested were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate health standard.Coliform bacteria and E. coli are the pass-fail items lenders and buyers ask about first.
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 inspect New Prague's older heritage homes?
Yes — and older heritage stock rewards a patient read: layered wiring, original masonry, and additions built across several eras that don't always tie into the original structure the way they should.
Can you taste or smell VOCs in drinking water?
Not reliably. MDH notes that most contaminants in well water cannot be tasted, smelled, or seen, so testing is the only way to know what is in the water. Do not rely on odor to rule out a problem, particularly after a nearby fuel spill or when buying a home.
How do you remove arsenic from well water?
MDH lists reverse osmosis, distillation, anion exchange, and adsorptive media, plus oxidation or chlorination followed by filtration. Water softeners and activated carbon alone do not remove arsenic, and boiling concentrates it. Choose a unit certified by NSF International, UL, or WQA, and retest the water after installation.
How high should a well casing stick up above the ground?
Minnesota Rules 4725.2250 requires a casing or casing extension to extend vertically at least 12 inches above the established ground surface, the floor of a well house, or a concrete slab. The ground next to the casing must be graded to divert water away. Ending the casing below ground, such as in a well pit, is prohibited. Ponding or poor grading around the casing is a good reason to test for coliform bacteria.
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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