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Well Water Testing · Walters, MN

Water testing in Walters

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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Walters · Faribault County

Well Water Testing in Walters

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.

Walters is a small Faribault County village of older homes. Housing here runs to older farm-town homes, across the village core.

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

Well cap in the foreground, split-level home on a wooded lot behind it in the northern Minnesota pine woods in summer: well water testing in Walters, MN
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →

Well water in Faribault County

MDA's 2018 township testing in Faribault County covered Barber, Prescott and Winnebago townships: 134 wells were tested and none (0%) were over the 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen health standard. That is a good result for those townships, but it does not cover the whole county or every well depth. MDH lists coliform bacteria yearly, nitrate every year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

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

Well cap in the foreground, newer two-story home on a rural lot behind it in the northern Minnesota pine woods in winter snow: well water testing in Walters, MN
VOCs: fuels, solvents and degreasers →

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

Pairs well with:

Septic inspection in WaltersRadon testing in WaltersSewer scope in Walters

Water tests available in Walters

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.

Walters 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 Faribault County wells

0%

0% of 134 wells tested in Barber, Prescott and Winnebago townships were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2018).

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

What a properly finished wellhead looks like in Walters

12 in. minimumabove groundground slopes awayvent screened, down
  • Casing at least 12 inches above the ground, slab or well house floor.
  • Vent ends at least 12 inches above ground, screened, opening facing down.
  • Ground graded so water drains away. A casing ending below ground, as in a well pit, is not allowed.
Source: Minnesota Rules 4725.2250 and 4725.5450

A short casing or a buried well pit lets surface water in. A coliform bacteria test shows whether it is reaching the water. Get a free instant quote

Buying a home with a well in Walters: 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

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.
Did MDA find nitrate above the limit in Faribault County wells?
In the 2018 initial sampling of Barber, Prescott and Winnebago townships, 0% of 134 wells tested over the 10 mg/L health standard. Results are township-level, so a specific well can still differ. MDH recommends an accredited laboratory.
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.
Do you cover Walters?
Yes — Walters is a short run from our Buffalo Center base. The older farm-town stock gets services dated precisely, and older laterals get a sewer-scope recommendation.
Should I test my well for VOCs if there is a gas station nearby?
MDH says to consider testing for volatile organic chemicals if your well is near fuel tanks or a commercial or industrial area. A nearby station is a reasonable reason to ask an accredited laboratory for a VOC analysis. Results are compared with MDH health-based guidance values for each compound.
How common is arsenic in Minnesota well water?
MDH reports about 10 percent of private wells in Minnesota have arsenic above the 10 µg/L standard, and arsenic was detected in about 40 percent of new wells drilled since 2008. Some wells have reached 350 µg/L. Levels vary between wells, even close together, so each well needs its own test.
What is a sand-point well and is it riskier?
A drive-point (sand-point) well is a pointed screen on tightly coupled steel pipe, usually 1.25 inches in diameter, driven below the water table. The Department of Health notes that dug, bored, and drive-point wells are often under 50 feet deep and are more likely to be contaminated by surface water, septic sewage, or chemical spills. Shallower wells are a reason for regular coliform and nitrate testing.
What should I look for on a well cap?
The Department of Health asks owners to check whether the well cap is securely attached, broken, or missing, whether the casing has cracks, holes, or corrosion, and whether electrical conduit and other connections are watertight. Under Minnesota Rules 4725.5450, a vent must be screened with openings of 1/16 inch or less and point downward. A damaged cap or vent is a good reason to test for coliform bacteria.
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