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Well Water Testing · Pleasanton, IA

Water testing in Pleasanton

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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Pleasanton · Decatur County

Well Water Testing in Pleasanton

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.

Pleasanton is a very small Decatur County town founded in 1854 as Pleasant Plain, platted on a grid of 14 blocks around a public square and renamed Pleasanton. Housing here runs to a small stock of houses from the 1850s town and the decades after, a peak of 266 residents in 1920, and a few later homes, across the original grid of blocks around the public square, which is bordered by Main, Pleasant, Ward and South Streets.

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

Well water in Decatur County

The Iowa DNR recommends yearly coliform bacteria and nitrate testing and at least one arsenic test for every private well, including those in Decatur County. The Iowa Geological Survey's water atlas for Decatur County dates to 1967, so a current lab test of your own well is the reliable guide.

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

Home inspection in Pleasanton →  ·  Water testing in Iowa, explained →

Water tests available in Pleasanton

Bacteria

Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.

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. Compare your lab results with these values.

Pleasanton 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

When to test your water

  • Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well.
  • At least onceArsenic and manganese. Iowa DNR's testing list repeats arsenic every 3 years.
  • Before a baby drinks the waterNitrate. Water above 10 mg/L as nitrogen should not be used for infant formula or juice.
  • When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
  • New well or well workWhen a well is new and after service on the well or pump.
  • After a flood or power outageIf flood water was near or reached the well, or an outage dropped the water pressure.
  • When taste, color or smell changesA change in the water is a reason to test.
  • Near a fuel tankVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and fuel oil. Iowa DNR names gasoline among the VOCs some wells are susceptible to, and Iowa's well rules list 100 feet between a well and a liquid fuel storage tank other than propane.
  • City water in an older homeLead. Iowa DNR says homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder.

Based on: Iowa DNR private wells, Iowa DNR testing frequency, Iowa DNR why test, Iowa DNR floods, State Hygienic Laboratory, 567 IAC 49.

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.

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How far a well must be from common hazards in Pleasanton

  • 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 Pleasanton: 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.
My home is on city water in Iowa. Is water testing still worth it?
Often, yes. Lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing. Iowa DNR says a water system cannot control the materials used in home plumbing. Your utility sends a Consumer Confidence Report each year. Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule, utilities sample selected homes, those more likely to have lead plumbing. Iowa community water systems had to prepare a lead service line inventory under the federal rule, and it must be publicly available. DNR expects homes built after 1988 to have service lines made of something other than lead. To learn what your service line is made of, ask your water utility. DNR also notes that utilities are not required to offer lead testing on request. EPA says testing is the only sure way to know whether harmful amounts of lead are in your water.
Is there a state report on groundwater in Decatur County?
Yes, an old one. A 1969 Iowa Geological Survey report on Wayne County cites a 1967 Decatur County water atlas, Water Atlas No. 2, as the first in a series on south-central Iowa. It is more than 50 years old, so a current test of your own well is far more reliable.
If a Pleasanton house has been vacant for a while, what should I look for first?
A house that has sat empty can hide problems that a quick walk-through misses. Past roof leaks and ceiling stains, plumbing that was drained or frozen, pest activity, and moisture in the basement or crawl space are the usual concerns. Evidence of animals in the attic and walls is also worth looking for. If the property has a private septic system, Iowa requires an inspection before transfer under Iowa Code 455B.172. Decatur County is EPA Radon Zone 1.
What does Iowa say about the wellhead itself?
Under 567 IAC 49.17, a well not in a wellhouse needs a cap that seals tightly against the casing, and the casing must terminate at least one foot above finished grade. A cap on a well with a pitless adapter needs a screened vent at least 12 inches above the ground. Section 49.8 says wells cannot be located in basements or in frost pits. These are the construction rules for new wells. Cap, casing height and drainage around the wellhead keep surface water out, and a bacteria test shows whether they are doing their job.
Who is allowed to do well work in Iowa?
Iowa requires well services to be done by a DNR-certified well contractor who is on site and in direct charge of the work, under 567 IAC 82.2(1) and 49.4(3). The one exception is that a person may perform well services on their own property. DNR certifies well drillers, pump installers and well plugging contractors, and they have different scopes. You can check a contractor's status on DNR's lists. A lab result helps show whether the well needs a DNR-certified contractor.
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