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Well Water Testing · Thayer, IA

Water testing in Thayer

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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Thayer · Union County

Well Water Testing in Thayer

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.

Thayer is a small Union County town surveyed in 1867 as a stop on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, laid out in October 1868 and incorporated in 1894. Housing here runs to houses from the years after the 1868 platting, rebuilding after a major 1917 fire in the business district, a peak of 394 residents in 1900, and some later homes, across the gentle slope above the Four Mile Creek valley and the old railroad-town blocks.

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

Well water in Union County

We found no Union County private well data in the sources we opened. Iowa DNR recommends that private well owners test for coliform bacteria and nitrate each year, test for arsenic at least once, and contact the county health department about free basic testing through the Grants to Counties program. The Iowa Geological Survey says Dakota aquifer water in its 16-county study area is generally fair to poor, with aquifer depth the main influence on dissolved solids and sulfate. We did not confirm which county wells use it.

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

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Water tests available in Thayer

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.

Thayer 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 Thayer

  • 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 Thayer: 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.
What drives poorer water quality in southern Iowa's Dakota aquifer?
The Iowa Geological Survey says the major factor influencing Dakota aquifer total dissolved solids and sulfate appears to be the depth of the aquifer, with higher values in its deeper north-central portion. Many communities still use it because the water can be treated or blended. This describes a regional study area, and we did not confirm any Union County well draws from it.
Thayer sits on a slope above the Four Mile Creek valley. How does that affect a basement or crawl space?
A slope is good for drainage only if the ground at the house actually carries water away. Soil should fall away from the foundation on every side, downspouts should discharge well clear of the walls, and it is worth knowing whether the lot receives runoff from uphill neighbors. Inside, efflorescence, stain lines and damp odors in the basement or crawl space are the signs to look for, plus the sump pit and its discharge if there is one. Ask the seller about past water. Union County is EPA Radon Zone 1, so a radon test belongs in the foundation review.
What does a positive coliform or E. coli result mean?
Per the State Hygienic Laboratory, absent coliform and E. coli means the water is bacterially safe. Present total coliform means unsafe with potential health concerns. Present coliform and E. coli means unsafe with serious health concerns, because a pathway from a waste source such as a septic tank or feedlot may exist. Short term, boil water for one minute or use a known safe source, then find and fix how bacteria are entering the system. A coliform result is a lab indicator of a possible sanitary defect, and a home inspection of the wellhead looks for visible defects like a loose cap or poor drainage.
Should I test my well after a flood?
Yes. Iowa DNR says never consume water from a well if flood water may have reached it, and test to find out if it is safe. Test for coliform and E. coli, and nitrate. Floods can raise groundwater loading near a well and surface water can enter through casing defects. Standard bacteria tests do not detect Giardia or Cryptosporidium, so ask the county about State Hygienic Laboratory parasite testing if you suspect flood contamination. After a flood, only lab testing shows whether a well is safe, and a wellhead check can note casing or cap damage.
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