Well Water Testing · Woodward, IA
Water testing in Woodward
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…
Woodward · Dallas County
Well Water Testing in Woodward
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.
Woodward is a High Trestle Trail town of older homes above the Des Moines River valley. Housing here runs to older homes with trail-era buyers arriving, across the town core near the High Trestle trailhead.
Woodward is served by our Des Moines team → · (563) 517-7815
Well water in Dallas County
Many Dallas County homes use city or rural water, yet a USGS-based estimate counts about 7,943 residents on private wells. About 61% of the county is row-crop land. Iowa DNR advises annual bacteria and nitrate testing and arsenic at least once.
County facts checked October 2026 against: iowadnr.gov.
Home inspection in Woodward → · Water testing in Iowa, explained →
Water tests available in Woodward
Bacteria
Shows whether surface water or waste is reaching the well.
- Surface contamination reaching the well
- Fecal contamination from septic, manure or wildlife
Health chemicals
No taste, color or smell. These are the long-term health checks.
- Fertilizer, septic and manure; highest risk to infants10 mg/L (EPA)
- Natural arsenic from rock and soil10 µg/L (EPA)
- Lead service lines, solder and brass fixtures
- ManganeseNatural manganese; a concern for infants
- FluorideNatural fluoride; dental health4.0 mg/L (EPA)
- UraniumNatural radionuclide in groundwater30 µg/L (EPA)
Petroleum & solvents
Fuel and chemical spills from old tanks or nearby sites.
Household quality
Staining, scale and taste, and choosing the right treatment.
- IronRusty staining and metallic taste
- HardnessScale buildup; sizing a water softenerNo health standard
- pHCorrosive or scaling water6.5 to 8.5, aesthetic (EPA)
- SulfateTaste and odor; diarrhea risk for infants250 mg/L, aesthetic (EPA)
Limits shown are EPA drinking water standards. Compare your lab results with these values.
Woodward private well testing timeline
| Test | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Year 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria | ||||||
| Nitrate | ||||||
| Arsenic |
When to test your water
- Every yearColiform bacteria and nitrate, the basic safety checks for a private well.
- At least onceArsenic and manganese. Iowa DNR's testing list repeats arsenic every 3 years.
- Before a baby drinks the waterNitrate. Water above 10 mg/L as nitrogen should not be used for infant formula or juice.
- When you buy a homeA full baseline while you can still ask questions or negotiate.
- New well or well workWhen a well is new and after service on the well or pump.
- After a flood or power outageIf flood water was near or reached the well, or an outage dropped the water pressure.
- When taste, color or smell changesA change in the water is a reason to test.
- Near a fuel tankVOCs, plus DRO for diesel and fuel oil. Iowa DNR names gasoline among the VOCs some wells are susceptible to, and Iowa's well rules list 100 feet between a well and a liquid fuel storage tank other than propane.
- City water in an older homeLead. Iowa DNR says homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder.
Based on: Iowa DNR private wells, Iowa DNR testing frequency, Iowa DNR why test, Iowa DNR floods, State Hygienic Laboratory, 567 IAC 49.
How to get it done
- Choose your testsPick the water testing you need in the free instant quote.
- Pick a timeBook online. The quote takes about 30 seconds.
- Get certified lab resultsA certified laboratory analyzes the water and reports each result.
Well water around Woodward, Dallas County
How far a well must be from common hazards in Woodward
- 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
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 Woodward: what happens at the sale
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)).
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.
My home is on city water in Iowa. Is water testing still worth it?
Often, yes. Lead in drinking water comes mainly from service lines and home plumbing. Iowa DNR says a water system cannot control the materials used in home plumbing. Your utility sends a Consumer Confidence Report each year. Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule, utilities sample selected homes, those more likely to have lead plumbing. Iowa community water systems had to prepare a lead service line inventory under the federal rule, and it must be publicly available. DNR expects homes built after 1988 to have service lines made of something other than lead. To learn what your service line is made of, ask your water utility. DNR also notes that utilities are not required to offer lead testing on request. EPA says testing is the only sure way to know whether harmful amounts of lead are in your water.
Does farmland around Adel and Waukee mean my well needs a nitrate check?
The area estimate for Dallas County is low for nitrate, but the source notes individual wells can still exceed the limit, and about 61% of the county is row-crop land. The Iowa DNR lists nitrate as an annual test and notes shallow wells may contain high nitrate. Testing your own well is the only way to know.
Do you cover Woodward?
Yes — northwest Dallas County is in range. The older stock gets services and foundations dated, and lots toward the valley rim add slope drainage to the read. The High Trestle Trail has lifted demand here, which makes an independent inspection the only unhurried look a buyer gets.
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 lab result helps show whether the well needs a DNR-certified contractor.
Should I test my well after a flood?
Yes. Iowa DNR says never consume water from a well if flood water may have reached it, and test to find out if it is safe. Test for coliform and E. coli, and nitrate. Floods can raise groundwater loading near a well and surface water can enter through casing defects. Standard bacteria tests do not detect Giardia or Cryptosporidium. After a flood, only a lab test shows whether a well is safe to drink from again.
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