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Well Water Testing · West Concord, MN

Water testing in West Concord

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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West Concord · Dodge County

Well Water Testing in West Concord

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.

West Concord is a small Dodge County farm town of older housing. Housing here runs to older farm-town housing, across the town core.

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

Well water in Dodge County

MDA tested seven Dodge County townships in 2016 to 2017 and the initial dataset holds 654 wells, of which 7.0% were at or over 10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen. After MDA removed 66 wells with a likely non-fertilizer source or well problem, the final dataset of 588 wells showed 2.2%, and no township topped 10%. Initial township rates ran from 1.0% in Wasioja to 15.1% in Milton, so location matters. MDH lists nitrate every other year and coliform yearly.

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

Water testing in West Concord: what matters

West Concord, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, 1970s rambler behind it on the southwestern Minnesota prairie in spring green
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in the foreground, small cabin behind it on the southwestern Minnesota prairie in winter snow (Dodge County, Minnesota)
Lead: MDH says no level is safe →

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

Water tests available in West Concord

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.

West Concord 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.

Nitrate in Dodge County wells

2.2%

2.2% of 588 wells tested in seven townships (final dataset) were at or over the 10 mg/L nitrate standard (MDA township testing, 2016-2017).

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 West Concord

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 West Concord: 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 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.
How common is high nitrate in Dodge County private wells?
In MDA's 2016 to 2017 testing of seven townships, 7.0% of 654 wells were at or over 10 mg/L, and 2.2% of 588 wells after MDA removed wells with other likely sources. Milton Township's initial rate was 15.1%, Wasioja's 1.0%. Those are township samples, not a promise for your property, so a nitrate result on your own well matters.
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 West Concord?
Yes — the older stock gets a careful read on original systems and foundations.
How do you remove arsenic from well water?
MDH lists reverse osmosis, distillation, anion exchange, and adsorptive media, plus oxidation or chlorination followed by filtration. Water softeners and activated carbon alone do not remove arsenic, and boiling concentrates it. Choose a unit certified by NSF International, UL, or WQA, and retest the water after installation.
Is there a safe level of lead in drinking water?
No. MDH states that there is no safe level of lead. The EPA action level of 15 parts per billion for public water systems is a point at which a utility must act, not a level considered safe. Babies, children under six, and pregnant women are at highest risk.
How far must a well be from a fuel tank, feedlot, or manure storage?
Minnesota Rules 4725.4450 sets, for example, 150 feet from a tank holding 1,100 gallons or more of unprotected petroleum, 100 feet from an unroofed feedlot of 300 or more animal units, and 50 feet from an animal feedlot or animal building with more than one animal unit. Sensitive wells have larger distances. If a fuel tank or feedlot is near the wellhead, MDH says to consider testing for volatile organic chemicals or area agricultural chemicals.
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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