About this list
- Agency
- Minnesota Department of Health - MNELAP / Well Management
- Format
- PDF map + table (private-well labs only)
- Homeowner flag
- Every lab on this list accepts private-well samples.
Certified as ofOctober 2026
MDH Accredited Labs in Minnesota Accepting Drinking Water Samples from Private Well Users. Fetched 2026-11-15 (UTC).
Official sourceTesting your well in Minnesota
How often to test
- Coliform bacteria and nitrate every year. Arsenic, lead and manganese at least once. [1]
Free testing
We found no statewide free testing program in Minnesota. Ask your county health department whether it runs one.
Buying or selling a home
- MDH says Minnesota does not require testing private well water at the time of property transfer, but many lending institutions may require testing, typically for coliform bacteria and nitrate, as a condition for a loan. In Dakota County, a local ordinance requires wells to be tested at the time of property transfer. State law (Minnesota Statutes, section 103I.235) requires the seller to disclose the number and status of all wells on the property and provide a sketch map showing where each one is. [2]
State lab and rules
- The Minnesota Department of Health does not test homeowner samples on the pages we read. It points owners to accredited private labs and suggests comparing costs. [1]
Show the numbers
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 68 counties | |
| Zone 2 | 19 counties | |
| Zone 3 | 0 counties |
Radon in indoor air, not in water. EPA: Zone 1 = highest potential (average indoor radon may be above 4 pCi/L); Zone 2 = 2 to 4; Zone 3 = below 2. EPA says the map should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing. Source: U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025), accessed 2026-11-01.
Sources
- Minnesota Department of Health, Well water testing tips
- Minnesota Department of Health, What You Should Know About Wells at Property Transfer (last updated 09/30/2025)
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025)
Loan test (FHA, VA, USDA) in Minnesota
- VA. Test results are valid for 90 days from the date the local health authority certifies them, unless the local authority says otherwise. VA’s chapter names no list of contaminants: the water must meet the local health authority’s requirements, or EPA guidelines where it has none. Your lender may ask for specific tests.
- FHA. A well test is required in the situations FHA’s handbook lists, among others, and the report may not be more than 180 days old at disbursement.
- USDA. Guaranteed loans need a water quality test for a private well, done by the local health authority or a state-certified lab, and no more than 180 days old at closing.
Here:
- 1 lab on the Minnesota list print a loan or home-sale package price on their own site: see the price table.
Lenders can ask for more (extra tests, a particular lab, who takes the sample): ask your lender before you book. Federal rules as read on Nov 3, 2026 source 1 source 2 source 3. Full comparison: VA, FHA and USDA well water test requirements. Loan test kits sold by mail, with price and days to results: kits compared.
What Minnesota labs say on their own websites
State lists say what a lab is certified for, not whether it takes your sample or what it costs. We read each lab’s own site; a second reader re-checked every fact below. 15 labs on this list are on our register so far; 12 say they take homeowner samples and 5 print a price.
| Lab | Bacteria (coliform / E. coli) | Nitrate | Arsenic | Lead | Basic well panel | Home sale / loan package | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.W. Research Laboratories, Inc. Brainerd, MN · You collect it, or lab staff can | Total Coliform $35.00 E.coli free with total coliform source | Nitrate as N $30.00 source | Arsenic $35.00 * source | Lead $35.00 * source | Premium Drinking Water Package (Includes total coliform, E. coli, nitrate, lead, arsenic, and manganese) $160.00 source Safe Drinking Water Package (Includes total coliform, E. coli, nitrate, and arsenic) $100.00 source | FHA / VA Loan Testing Package (Includes total coliform, E. coli, nitrate, nitrite, and lead testing – meets requirements for most FHA or VA Loans – check with your lender.) $130.00 source | Results are typically completed within 3-5 business days with the exception of arsenic and lead (see below). *Lead, Arsenic, and Manganese Results Standard turn-around is 5-10 business days from the day we receive your sample. |
| RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc. - Burnsville Burnsville, MN · You collect it, or lab staff can | Bacteria Series (Pres./Abs.) (Total Coliform & E. coli Bacteria) $35.00 2-3 Business Days source Bacteria Series (Count) (Total Coliform & E. coli Bacteria) $40.00 2-3 Business Days source | Nitrate Nitrogen $35.00 2-3 Business Days source Nitrogen Series (Nitrate, Nitrite, Nitrate + Nitrite Nitrogen reported) $40.00 2-3 Business Days source | Arsenic $40.00 3-5 Business Days source | Lead $40.00 3-5 Business Days source | – | – | Standard Turnaround Time: Bacteria Series (Pres./Abs.) 2-3 Business Days; Nitrate Nitrogen 2-3 Business Days; Arsenic, Lead, Manganese 3-5 Business Days; Suitability Package 5-7 Business Days (price-list table column; recorded string is a composed paraphrase) |
| RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc. – Detroit Lakes Detroit Lakes, MN · You collect it, or lab staff can | Bacteria Series (Pres./Abs.) (Total Coliform & E. coli Bacteria) $35.00 2-3 Business Days source Bacteria Series (Count) (Total Coliform & E. coli Bacteria) $40.00 2-3 Business Days source | Nitrate Nitrogen $35.00 2-3 Business Days source Nitrogen Series (Nitrate, Nitrite, Nitrate + Nitrite Nitrogen reported) $40.00 2-3 Business Days source | Arsenic $40.00 3-5 Business Days source | Lead $40.00 3-5 Business Days source | – | – | Standard Turnaround Time: Bacteria Series 2-3 Business Days; Nitrate Nitrogen 2-3 Business Days; Arsenic, Lead, Manganese 3-5 Business Days; Suitability Package 5-7 Business Days |
| Red Wing City Laboratory Red Wing, MN · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Bacterial: Total Coliform $24.00 ... A minimum charge will be made if the total cost of analysis is less than the minimum charge: $30.00 minimum source | Nitrate-N $18.00 ... $30.00 minimum source | – | – | – | – | A report will be generated and sent to the person indicated by mail, fax or email in approximately 7-10 business days. |
| Water Laboratories, Inc. Elk River, MN · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | TOTAL COLIFORM BACTERIA (Colilert-24, 24 hr) $36.00 source | NITRATE $36.00 source | ARSENIC $56.00 source | LEAD $56.00 source | Basic Kit (Coliform Bacteria & Nitrates) $56.00 source Basic+Arsenic (Coliform Bacteria, Nitrates & Arsenic) $100.00 source | – | – |
Say they take homeowner samples: A.W. Research Laboratories, Inc., Engel Water Testing, Inc., Instrumental Research, Inc., Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, Inc., RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc. - Burnsville, RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc. – Detroit Lakes, RMB Environmental Laboratories, Inc. – Pequot Lakes, Red Wing City Laboratory, Southeastern Minnesota Water Analysis Laboratory, Traut Water Analysis Lab, Twin City Water Clinic, Inc., Water Laboratories, Inc..
Prices exactly as each lab prints them, read 15 Nov 2026; re-checked every 90 days. Labs not shown have not been read yet or print nothing for homeowners. Confirm price and turnaround with the lab.
Labs by contaminant
Labs on the Minnesota list for one test, with homeowner-accepting labs first.
Well water by county
Private-well population (USGS, 2015), arsenic estimate, radon zone and nearby labs for each county with at least 1,000 people on private wells, largest first.
Anoka County82,731 on wellsSt. Louis County51,021 on wellsHennepin County50,519 on wellsStearns County50,248 on wellsWashington County47,417 on wellsWright County46,591 on wellsSherburne County38,385 on wellsCrow Wing County36,558 on wellsOtter Tail County32,816 on wellsBeltrami County31,182 on wellsChisago County27,563 on wellsItasca County26,435 on wellsScott County26,300 on wellsCass County24,556 on wellsIsanti County22,919 on wellsBecker County21,446 on wellsOlmsted County20,826 on wellsDouglas County20,235 on wellsPine County19,769 on wellsCarlton County19,639 on wellsRice County18,190 on wellsRamsey County17,903 on wellsMorrison County17,595 on wellsMille Lacs County16,858 on wellsTodd County15,917 on wellsHubbard County15,915 on wellsGoodhue County15,435 on wellsDakota County15,276 on wellsBenton County15,090 on wellsCarver County14,681 on wellsKandiyohi County14,512 on wellsBlue Earth County14,179 on wellsAitkin County12,512 on wellsMeeker County12,362 on wellsKanabec County11,857 on wellsLe Sueur County10,993 on wellsWinona County10,535 on wellsRoseau County10,250 on wellsMcLeod County9,732 on wellsPolk County9,403 on wellsFillmore County8,994 on wellsMower County8,656 on wellsClay County8,534 on wellsFreeborn County8,353 on wellsWabasha County8,249 on wellsDodge County8,074 on wellsHouston County7,973 on wellsSteele County7,305 on wellsPope County6,591 on wellsClearwater County6,583 on wellsWadena County6,195 on wellsWaseca County5,909 on wellsNicollet County5,907 on wellsSibley County5,865 on wellsKoochiching County5,601 on wellsRenville County5,172 on wellsPennington County5,089 on wellsRedwood County4,911 on wellsMartin County4,272 on wellsFaribault County4,210 on wellsMarshall County4,133 on wellsLyon County3,943 on wellsLake County3,841 on wellsCook County3,834 on wellsBrown County3,813 on wellsMahnomen County3,757 on wellsSwift County3,550 on wellsNobles County3,370 on wellsJackson County3,339 on wellsMurray County3,193 on wellsYellow Medicine County3,155 on wellsStevens County3,116 on wellsChippewa County3,109 on wellsLac qui Parle County3,066 on wellsLake of the Woods County2,813 on wellsNorman County2,698 on wellsGrant County2,513 on wellsWilkin County1,976 on wellsRed Lake County1,895 on wellsWatonwan County1,822 on wellsBig Stone County1,310 on wellsTraverse County1,231 on wellsKittson County1,134 on wells