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Well Water Testing · Williamson, IA

Water testing in Williamson

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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Williamson · Lucas County

Well Water Testing in Williamson

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.

Williamson is a small Lucas County coal-camp town platted over a documented 300-foot mine shaft. Housing here runs to early-1900s coal-camp housing from the Rock Island era, small and simply built, with limited later construction, across the small town plat and the surrounding Lucas County ground toward the old Tipperary and Olmitz camps.

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

Well water in Lucas County

No Lucas County private well statistics were found. Iowa DNR guidance applies: coliform bacteria and nitrate annually, arsenic at least once, with free basic testing available through the Grants to Counties Well Testing Program by contacting the county health department. A 1969 Iowa Geological Survey report on neighboring Wayne County describes several south-central Iowa counties as chronically short of good-quality water, which shows why checking a rural supply matters, though that report does not name Lucas.

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

See all Williamson inspections →  ·  Water testing in Iowa, explained →

Water tests available in Williamson

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.

Williamson 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.

Water testing in Williamson: what matters

Williamson, IA water testing: well cap in a backyard in Iowa summer
VOCs: fuels, solvents and degreasers →
Well cap beside a pole shed in Iowa spring green (Lucas County, Iowa)
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →
Williamson, IA water testing: water sample bottles in a small cooler with ice packs in a modern Iowa kitchen
Coliform bacteria: Iowa DNR recommends testing every year →

How far a well must be from common hazards in Williamson

  • 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 Williamson: 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.
Why is it worth testing a rural well in Lucas County?
The Iowa DNR says testing tells you what is in your water, and recommends bacteria and nitrate checks every year. A 1969 state geological report on a neighboring county called south-central Iowa chronically short of good-quality water, and said rural domestic supplies were hard to obtain in many places. That is old and regional, so treat it as background only.
Is mine subsidence a real concern for a Williamson property?
It is a fair question, and the honest answer is: check the map, do not assume the worst. Williamson was a coal-boom town, originally platted as Gunwald and renamed in 1922, and the documented No. 3 mine worked a 300-foot shaft over roughly 790 underground acres. Iowa DNR publishes a public coal-mine map, and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship runs a program specifically for mining-related subsidence. But the Iowa Geological Survey's study of the heavily undermined Centerville area recorded relatively few reported mine-related problems, so undermined ground is not the same as damaged houses. The pattern and age of any movement show up in the foundation and framing.
What does Iowa say about the wellhead itself?
Under 567 IAC 49.17, a well not in a wellhouse needs a cap that seals tightly against the casing, and the casing must terminate at least one foot above finished grade. A cap on a well with a pitless adapter needs a screened vent at least 12 inches above the ground. Section 49.8 says wells cannot be located in basements or in frost pits. These are the construction rules for new wells. Cap, casing height and drainage around the wellhead are visible items covered in a home inspection, and a bacteria test shows whether they are doing their job.
Who is allowed to do well work in Iowa?
Iowa requires well services to be done by a DNR-certified well contractor who is on site and in direct charge of the work, under 567 IAC 82.2(1) and 49.4(3). The one exception is that a person may perform well services on their own property. DNR certifies well drillers, pump installers and well plugging contractors, and they have different scopes. You can check a contractor's status on DNR's lists. A home inspector or tester does not do licensed well work; testing and a visual check of the wellhead help decide whether to call a certified contractor.
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