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Well Water Testing · Roscoe, MN

Water testing in Roscoe

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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Roscoe · Stearns County

Well Water Testing in Roscoe

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 year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

Roscoe is a Stearns County farm village built around St. Agnes Church, once called Zion. Housing here runs to early-1900s farm-village houses, a thin postwar stock, and a scattering of newer builds and acreages, across the small townsite around St. Agnes Church, the old Great Northern grade and the farms of the surrounding township.

Roscoe is served by our Big Lake team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well water in Stearns County

MDA's 2014 and 2015 sampling covered many townships: the final dataset had 1,788 wells and 6.9% were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate limit. Results ranged from 0% to 11.4%, and only Grove Township topped 10%, with the rest under 10%. MDH says central and west-central Minnesota show the highest shares of new wells with arsenic detections, so arsenic testing is sensible here.coli, nitrate, arsenic, lead, manganese, iron, hardness, pH, fluoride, sulfate, uranium, VOCs and DRO (diesel range organics) through an accredited lab.

County facts checked September 2026 against: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Health, mda.state.mn.us, content.civicplus.com.

Well water around Roscoe, Stearns County

Roscoe, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, split-level home on a wooded lot behind it in the Minnesota River valley in winter snow
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in the foreground, 1970s rambler behind it in the Minnesota River valley in spring green (Stearns County, Minnesota)
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →

Home inspection in Roscoe →  ·  More about well water testing →  ·  Every water test, explained →

Pairs well with:

Septic inspection in RoscoeRadon testing in RoscoeSewer scope in Roscoe

Water tests available in Roscoe

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. Compare your lab results with these values.

Roscoe private well testing timeline

Minnesota Department of Health schedule: coliform bacteria and nitrate every year, arsenic and lead at least once. Source: MDH
TestYear 1Year 2Year 3Year 4Year 5Year 6
Coliform bacteria
Nitrate
Arsenic
Lead

When to test your water

  • Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well. Nitrate can come from fertilizer, septic systems and animal waste.
  • At least onceArsenic and lead. Arsenic can differ even between neighboring wells.
  • Before a baby drinks the waterColiform bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead and manganese. MDH recommends testing a private well for all five before a baby drinks the water.
  • When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
  • After flooding or well workFlooding and repairs to the well are reasons to test again.
  • When taste, color or smell changesMDH says a change in taste, smell or look is a reason to test for coliform bacteria.
  • Near a fuel tank or industrial siteVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and heating oil. MDH says to consider a VOC test if the well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area.
  • City water in an older homeLead. MDH says homes built before 1940 may have lead service lines, and plumbing parts made before 1986 may contain lead.

Based on: MDH well testing, MDH coliform bacteria, MDH nitrate, MDH water for babies, MDH flood precautions, MDH lead.

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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Nitrate in Stearns County wells

6.9%

6.9% of 1,788 wells tested in many townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2014-2015).

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

Buying a home with a well in Roscoe: the disclosure rules

  1. Before the purchase agreementThe seller discloses in writing every known well and whether it is in use, not in use or sealed.
  2. At closingA well disclosure certificate is signed, unless the deed says the seller knows of no wells.
  3. If a well was hiddenA seller who knew of an undisclosed well can owe the sealing cost and attorney fees if the buyer sues within six years.
Source: Minnesota Statutes 103I.235

The disclosure tells you a well exists, not what is in it. Add water testing to your inspection. Get a free instant quote

How far a well must be from common hazards in Roscoe

  • Building (closest projection)3 ft
  • Lake, river, stream or pond35 ft
  • Septic tank50 ft
  • Drainfield (soil dispersal area)50 ft (100 ft sensitive well)
  • Animal feedlot or building (over 1 animal unit)50 ft
  • Cesspool or seepage pit75 ft (150 ft sensitive well)
  • Unroofed feedlot, 300+ animal units100 ft
  • Unprotected petroleum tank, 1,100+ gallons150 ft
Source: Minnesota Rules 4725.4450 and 4725.4350

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

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 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.
Is nitrate high in Stearns County wells?
MDA's final dataset for townships sampled in 2014 and 2015 had 1,788 wells with 6.9% at or over the 10 mg/L limit. Only Grove Township exceeded 10% (11.4%), and every other township was under 10%. Results vary a lot by township, so MDH's advice to test nitrate every year applies to your own well.
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.
Roscoe was once called Zion — what does that history say about its houses?
It says the village is old and built around a church. Roscoe began as Zion with a post office in 1865, was renamed in 1914 for a railroad executive, and the Great Northern tracks were abandoned in 1988. A church was dedicated on the St. Agnes site in 1898. Houses cluster near the church and the old rail line and run to a century old. Foundations and basement walls, old wiring and plumbing, roof age and chimneys, and whether each home is on a private well and septic system are the main questions.
What tests go along with DRO?
MPCA guidance describes DRO and GRO as informing follow-up testing for volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Those individual chemical results are what get compared with MDH health-based guidance values. Ask an accredited laboratory which package fits your situation.
Can I boil well water that tested positive for coliform?
MDH says boiled or bottled water can be used for drinking and cooking until the problem is fixed. However, do not boil the water if nitrate or arsenic was also detected, because boiling can increase their concentration. In that case use bottled water or another safe source until the well is treated and retested.
When does the state recommend shock chlorination of a well?
The Department of Health recommends disinfecting with a chlorine solution when water tests positive for coliform bacteria, and after a flood. After the bleach is flushed out, it recommends sampling to confirm a negative coliform result before drinking, then retesting two to four weeks later, since coliform may regrow. Repeat disinfection if it returns. The retest after disinfection is the water-testing step that confirms the result.
Does the well disclosure apply to sand-point and dug wells too?
Yes. The Minnesota Department of Health says the disclosure law covers all types of wells, whether used for drinking water, irrigation, livestock, heating or cooling, or monitoring. That includes drive-point (sand-point) wells, drilled wells, and dug wells. The law is Minnesota Statutes section 103I.235, part of the Ground Water Protection Act. Ask for the disclosure early, then have the in-use well tested before closing.
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