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Well Water Testing · Redding, IA

Water testing in Redding

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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Redding · Ringgold County

Well Water Testing in Redding

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.

Redding is a very small Ringgold County town whose post office dates to 1855, with New Redding laid out in 1880 after the railroad arrived and incorporated in 1882. Housing here runs to houses from the 1880 railroad boom and the years just after, a stock built toward the town's 1900 peak of 311 residents, plus a few later homes, across the New Redding townsite south of the original Old Redding settlement, and the farm ground and acreages around it.

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

Well water in Ringgold County

No Ringgold County well-testing results were found. A 2009 Senate press release says Southern Iowa Rural Water Association was funded for a water tower and booster station serving customers in Taylor and Ringgold Counties, so some rural homes may be on a rural water system rather than a private well; confirm with the association. For homes on private wells, Iowa DNR recommends annual bacteria and nitrate tests and at least one arsenic test.

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

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

Water tests available in Redding

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.

Redding 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 Redding

  • 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 Redding: 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.
Do Ringgold County rural homes use private wells or rural water?
Both may exist. A 2009 press release says Southern Iowa Rural Water Association received funding for a tower and booster station serving customers in Taylor and Ringgold Counties. We did not find a current service map, so check with the association about an address. If you do have a private well, Iowa DNR recommends yearly bacteria and nitrate testing.
Fires in 1884 destroyed much of Redding's early buildings. Does that history matter when buying an old house there?
It tells us the oldest houses are mostly rebuilt or later than the first settlement, so we judge each house on its own structure rather than its date. Foundation walls, floor framing, chimneys and flues, and the electrical service are the things to watch, since older wiring and heating details are the usual concerns in a house of this age. The roof, attic and any additions are worth attention too. Redding is tiny, so many properties rely on a private well and septic; Iowa Code 455B.172 requires an inspection of a private septic system before the property transfers. Ringgold County is EPA Radon Zone 1, so a radon test belongs in the review.
Do I need a permit to drill or replace a private well?
Yes. Under 567 IAC 49.3(3) and Iowa Code 455B.187(2), a landowner cannot construct a new private well without first getting a well construction permit from DNR or a county with delegated authority. A permit is also required for replacement wells and for changes to a well's physical dimensions. The permit requires construction by a certified well contractor, and it is not transferable and expires one calendar year after issuance. A new or replaced well should be tested, and Iowa's rules call for a water sample 10 to 30 days after a new or reconstructed well goes into service.
Is nitrate in well water dangerous for infants?
Yes. The State Hygienic Laboratory says nitrate above 10 mg/L as N may pose a serious health hazard for infants, and such water should not be used in infant formula or juice. Infants fed it can develop methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, a life-threatening illness. Boiling does not remove nitrate. Shallow wells and poorly located, built or maintained wells are more likely to have nitrate, so annual testing is the way to know. A nitrate test is the only way to learn whether the water at a home with young children is below the 10 mg/L limit.
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