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Well Water Testing · Woodland, MN

Water testing in Woodland

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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Woodland · Hennepin County

Well Water Testing in Woodland

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.

Woodland is a small Lake Minnetonka city, once the village of Maplewoods, known for the Old Stone Arch estate remnant. Housing here runs to large lakeshore homes from the estate years around 1900, mid-century houses after the 1948 incorporation, and newer rebuilds, across the wooded residential streets along Lake Minnetonka, County Road 101, and the Old Stone Arch.

Woodland is served by our Big Lake team →  ·  (612) 457-1634

Well water in Hennepin County

Hennepin County has no MDA township nitrate report on the schedule page, so there is no county well percentage to cite. MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells have arsenic above 10 ug/L, with levels varying over short distances, and that shallow and sand-aquifer wells are most exposed to nitrate. Boiling does not remove nitrate; it concentrates it. MDH lists coliform yearly, nitrate every other year, and arsenic and lead at least once.

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

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

Water tests available in Woodland

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.

Woodland 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.

Well water around Woodland, Hennepin County

Woodland, MN water testing: well cap in the foreground, country home with a three-car garage behind it in rural Minnesota in spring green
Coliform bacteria: MDH recommends testing every year →
Well cap in fresh snow beside a rural Minnesota home in winter (Hennepin County, Minnesota)
Nitrate: EPA limit 10 mg/L, highest risk to infants →
Woodland, MN water testing: twin Cities suburban home with a front lawn and a fire hydrant at the curb in summer
Arsenic: about 10% of Minnesota wells exceed the standard →

Arsenic in Woodland private wells, out of every 100

About 40 in 100 have some arsenic About 10 in 100 are above the 10 µg/L standard

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

You can't see, smell or taste arsenic. One lab test tells you where the well stands. Get a free instant quote

How long a private well lasts in Woodland

0255075100+ years
25 to 50 years is common
100+ possible

Wells built before 1974, when Minnesota's well code began, are listed by MDH as higher risk for bacteria, along with leaking dug wells, wells in old frost pits and wells with corroded casings.

Source: Minnesota Department of Health

Wells built before 1974 often have no record on file. Test the water before you close. 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.
Do Hennepin County homes with private wells need arsenic testing?
MDH says about 10 percent of Minnesota private wells exceed 10 ug/L arsenic and that it can vary a lot between nearby wells, so it advises testing at least once.
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.
What should I know about stone and masonry on old Woodland estates?
Woodland was settled in 1882 and incorporated in 1948 as Maplewoods, then renamed Woodland in 1949. Its best-known landmark is the Old Stone Arch, a lake-stone entry built around 1900 for a lakeshore estate and restored in 2011. That is a useful clue: older estate lots often have stone walls, chimneys, foundations and retaining walls built long ago. Mortar, cracking, tuckpointing needs, flashing and chimney condition are the things to watch, along with whether water is pushing on stone or block walls. Hidden wood framing behind stone finishes gets a close look for moisture.
What does a positive total coliform result mean in well water?
Coliform bacteria are common on the ground surface, so a positive result suggests surface contamination has entered the well. Most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, but their presence suggests disease-causing microorganisms may also be in the water. MDH advises using boiled or bottled water until the well is disinfected and a retest comes back negative.
Is nitrate in well water dangerous for babies?
Yes, it can be. Nitrate can cause methemoglobinemia, or blue baby syndrome, which reduces how well blood carries oxygen. Bottle-fed babies under six months are at highest risk. If nitrate is above 10 mg/L, MDH says to use bottled water or another safe source for infant formula.
How common is arsenic in Minnesota well water?
The Department of Health says about 40 percent of Minnesota wells have arsenic in the water. It occurs naturally in rocks and soil, levels can differ between wells even within a small area, and you cannot taste, see, or smell it. The EPA limit for community water systems is 10 micrograms per liter. Only a lab test shows the arsenic level in a specific well.
How long does a well last, and are older wells riskier?
The Department of Health says a well's life varies: some last 100 or more years, though 25 to 50 years is more common. It lists wells built before 1974, when the Minnesota Well Code began, as higher risk for microbial contamination, along with leaking dug wells, wells in old frost pits, and wells with corroded casings. If the home's well predates 1974 or sits in a pit, a coliform test is a sensible baseline.
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