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Well Water Testing · Spicer, MN

Water testing in Spicer

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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Spicer · Kandiyohi County

Well Water Testing in Spicer

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.

Spicer is a Green Lake resort town of converted cabins and newer lake homes. Housing here runs to converted cabins and newer lake homes on Green Lake, across the Green Lake shoreline and the town core.

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

Well water in Kandiyohi County

MDA's 2016 township testing in Kandiyohi County covered four townships, Burbank, Colfax, Norway Lake and Roseville, with 313 tested wells. Overall 3.5% were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen standard, ranging from 1.7% in Colfax to 7.0% in Roseville. The highest single reading was 41.5 mg/L, so an individual well can be far above the average. MDH says arsenic is more likely to be found in central and west central Minnesota and recommends testing at least once.

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

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

Water tests available in Spicer

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.

Spicer 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.

Private wells and water systems around Spicer

Spicer, MN water testing: clear water flowing from a faucet into a sample bottle in a Minnesota farmhouse kitchen
Lead: MDH says no level is safe →
White hard-water scale on a shower door in a modern Minnesota bathroom (Kandiyohi County, Minnesota)
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →
Spicer, MN water testing: hose bib on a brick wall at a Minnesota home in winter snow
E. coli: a sign of fecal contamination →

Nitrate in Kandiyohi County wells

3.5%

3.5% of 313 wells tested in four townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2016).

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

How far a well must be from common hazards in Spicer

  • 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

Arsenic in Spicer 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

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 Kandiyohi County well testing?
MDA's 2016 initial sampling of Burbank, Colfax, Norway Lake and Roseville townships found 3.5% of 313 wells at or over 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen, from 1.7% in Colfax to 7.0% in Roseville. The highest reading was 41.5 mg/L. That is a four-township sample, so nitrate and arsenic results on your own well are the useful numbers.
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.
Are Spicer's converted cabins a special case?
Very much — Green Lake's seasonal cottages turned year-round homes often have undersized heating, thin insulation and foundations never built for frost, and we read those closely.
Is nitrate in well water dangerous for babies?
Yes, it can be. Nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, which reduces how well blood carries oxygen. Bottle-fed babies under six months are at highest risk. If nitrate is above 10 mg/L, MDH says to use bottled water or another safe source for infant formula.
How do I get rid of E. coli in my well?
Disinfect the well with a chlorine solution, either through a licensed well contractor or by following the MDH well disinfection instructions. Then have an accredited lab retest the water before you drink it. MDH suggests testing again two to four weeks later, and a contractor can look for the entry point if it returns.
Who regulates private wells in Minnesota, and who is responsible for the water?
The Department of Health licenses the contractors who construct, repair, and seal regulated wells, and administers the Well Code, Minnesota Rules chapter 4725. For an existing private well, the Department of Health says the owner is responsible for regularly testing the water and keeping it safe. Licensed contractors must file well records, and since 1974 the Department of Health has required submittal of well construction records. Water testing arranged by the owner fills that gap.
How can I tell if there is a forgotten well on my property?
The Department of Health suggests looking for a pipe 1 to 8 inches wide at, above, or below the surface, a low spot or sunken area, a metal, wood, or concrete cover, a windmill or old well house, and a concrete patch or glass block in a basement step or floor. Well pits and basement offsets are other common signs. Visible signs like these are worth raising with your agent and a licensed well contractor.
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