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Well Water Testing · Woden, IA

Water testing in Woden

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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Woden · Hancock County

Well Water Testing in Woden

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.

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

Questions about a Woden home?  ·  Call or text (563) 517-7815

Well water in Hancock County

Hancock County runs a Private Well Program through its Environmental Health Department. The county page says private well testing is offered at no cost to the homeowner as funds are available, and that contaminants commonly tested for are coliform bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, and manganese. Limited help with well or cistern plugging and well reconstruction may also be available, depending on funds. Iowa DNR recommends all private well owners test at least annually, with arsenic tested at least once. No Hancock County-specific well results were found, so a test of your own well is the reliable measure.

County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov, iowadnr.gov, hancockcountyia.gov.

Well water around Woden, Hancock County

Woden, IA water testing: glass carafe of water in morning light in a modern white Iowa kitchen
DRO: a screen for diesel and heating-oil petroleum →
Kitchen faucet with water droplets in a 1960s Iowa kitchen (Hancock County, Iowa)
Coliform bacteria: Iowa DNR recommends testing every year →
Woden, IA water testing: farmhouse sink with a brass faucet in a Iowa farmhouse kitchen
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →

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

Water tests available in Woden

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.

Woden 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 Woden

  • 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 Woden: 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.
Does Hancock County offer help with private well water testing?
The Hancock County Environmental Health Department says its Private Well Program provides well water testing at no cost to the homeowner, as funds are available. Contaminants commonly tested include coliform bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, and manganese. Call the department at 641-924-2151 to ask about current availability before arranging any testing, since the county page says testing is offered only as funds allow.
Do you cover Woden?
Yes. Around Woden footings set below the locally required frost depth still see settlement cracks and ice-dam wear, and Iowa's Zone 1 radon standing makes a 48-hour test a smart add-on.
Do I need a permit to drill or replace a private well?
Yes. Under 567 IAC 49.3(3) and Iowa Code 455B.187(2), a landowner cannot construct a new private well without first getting a well construction permit from DNR or a county with delegated authority. A permit is also required for replacement wells and for changes to a well's physical dimensions. The permit requires construction by a certified well contractor, and it is not transferable and expires one calendar year after issuance. A new or replaced well should be tested, and Iowa's rules call for a water sample 10 to 30 days after a new or reconstructed well goes into service.
Is nitrate in well water dangerous for infants?
Yes. The State Hygienic Laboratory says nitrate above 10 mg/L as N may pose a serious health hazard for infants, and such water should not be used in infant formula or juice. Infants fed it can develop methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, a life-threatening illness. Boiling does not remove nitrate. Shallow wells and poorly located, built or maintained wells are more likely to have nitrate, so annual testing is the way to know. A nitrate test is the only way to learn whether the water at a home with young children is below the 10 mg/L limit.
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