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Well Water Testing · Otho, IA

Water testing in Otho

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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Otho · Webster County

Well Water Testing in Otho

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.

Otho is a former coal and clay-products town above the Des Moines River just south of Fort Dodge, platted in 1893. Housing here runs to homes from the 1893 plat and the coal and clay-works years, postwar houses, and newer homes on the outskirts, across the town grid above the Des Moines River valley and the rural lots toward Kalo.

Questions about a Otho home?  ·  Call or text (563) 517-7815

Well water in Webster County

Private wells in Webster County are the owner's responsibility to test. Iowa DNR recommends that all private well owners test at least annually, with coliform bacteria and nitrate checked each year, and arsenic tested at least once. DNR also notes that nitrate, arsenic, and other contaminants occur naturally in some aquifers, and that shallow groundwater is more exposed to surface contaminants. DNR also recommends at least one lead test for private water systems. Published county-level well results were not found for Webster County, so testing your own well is the only way to know what is in it.

County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, iowadnr.gov.

Water testing in Otho: what matters

Otho, IA water testing: black manganese staining in a toilet tank in a newer Iowa home
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Clipboard and sample bottles on a Iowa kitchen counter (no readable text) in afternoon light (Webster County, Iowa)
Arsenic: Iowa DNR says test at least once →
Otho, IA water testing: iowa home inspection: well pressure tank and a flashlight on the floor in an older basement
E. coli: a sign of fecal contamination →

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

Water tests available in Otho

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.

Otho 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 Otho

  • 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 Otho: 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.
When is the best time to test a Webster County well?
Iowa DNR recommends testing at least annually, and also whenever the well is new, after well, pump, or water system service, after a power outage that causes a loss of water pressure, or when the water looks, smells, or tastes different. Keeping a consistent yearly schedule makes changes in results easier to spot.
What should I know before buying in Otho?
Otho grew on coal mines and the Kalo brick-and-tile works, so the older stock is genuinely old and sits near the Des Moines River valley. Foundations and slopes are worth reading for movement and drainage, the age of the services matters, and a sewer scope is recommended on the original streets. Rural lots add well and septic. Webster County is Radon Zone 1; a 48-hour test is standard.
Does a septic system have to be inspected when an Iowa home is sold?
Yes, in most sales. Iowa Code 455B.172(11) requires a private sewage disposal system serving a building to be inspected before any transfer of ownership, and the county recorder will not record the deed without the inspector's report or a binding acknowledgment to inspect when weather prevents it. Only a DNR-certified time-of-transfer inspector may do it. Exemptions in the statute include transfers where the system was installed not more than two years earlier. An inspection is valid for two years. Because septic and well separation distances matter for water quality, a buyer of a home with both gets a fuller picture by testing the water alongside the septic report.
Does a septic system have to be inspected when an Iowa home is sold?
Yes, in most sales. Iowa Code 455B.172(11) requires a private sewage disposal system serving a building to be inspected before any transfer of ownership, and the county recorder will not record the deed without the inspector's report or a binding acknowledgment to inspect when weather prevents it. Only a DNR-certified time-of-transfer inspector may do it. Exemptions in the statute include transfers where the system was installed not more than two years earlier. An inspection is valid for two years. Because septic and well separation distances matter for water quality, a buyer of a home with both gets a fuller picture by testing the water alongside the septic report.
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