You are responsible for regularly testing your well water. Both natural sources and human activities can contaminate wells and cause short- or long-term health effects. You cannot taste, see, or smell most contaminants. MDH recommends using an accredited laboratory to test your water.

Winona County residents can pick up well test kits at the Winona County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 225 W 2nd Street in Winona.

Inspect your well often.  When inspecting your well, look for any damage, such as cracks or holes in the well casing, corrosion, loose wires, or soil settling around the well.  Ensure that the well cap is securely attached to the well casing and that it is not missing or broken.  Check to make sure the electrical conduits and other connections are watertight.  Be careful when working around the well with equipment and lawn mowers.  Bumping the well can crack the well casing, connections, or the grout seal around the well.

A damaged well may allow contaminants to enter the well.  If the well is damaged or the soil is settling around the well, contact a licensed well contractor for assistance.

To protect your well you should keep the area around the well clear to increase visibility of the well.  If your well is in a high traffic area, protect the well by placing posts around it so that it cannot be bumped by lawn mowers or other equipment.  Flags and reflectors can help increase visibility of the well.  Ensure that new structures or land uses are outside the isolation distances required to protect against contamination.

Take precautions before and after floods.  The top of the well should be at least one foot above the ground and the ground should be shaped to slope away from the well to help protect the well in case of flooding.  Flood water which has been ponded around a well for any duration of time could cause the well to become contaminated.  Disinfect your well after floods to ensure your water is safe to drink.

Unused wells which are not properly sealed pose a safety, health, and environmental risk to your family and community.  A well that you no longer use or that is in poor condition and not being properly maintained can be a pathway for contaminants to get into our groundwater drinking supply and is a safety hazard. You are responsible for getting unused wells on your property sealed. Only a licensed well contractor can legally seal wells.

Cost-share programs are available to assist with well sealing or decommissioning costs.  Contact Winona County SWCD staff to learn about programs available.

Nitrate in groundwater is an issue that has been developing in southeastern Minnesota for several decades. There are regulations in place to help protect groundwater, but it will likely take years of work to fully mitigate the issue. Checking your water quality now is a good way to confirm if your water is safe to drink.

Nitrate is a compound that occurs naturally and also has many human-made sources. Nitrate is in some lakes, rivers, and groundwater in Minnesota. When nitrate is found in Minnesota groundwater, it is usually at very low concentrations. However, some groundwater has nitrate concentrations that present a health risk – especially for babies. You cannot taste, see, or smell nitrate in your water.

Test your well for nitrate every year. You should also have your water tested for nitrate if you plan on becoming pregnant or if infants will be using the water.  Drinking water with concentrations of nitrate (measured as nitrate-nitrogen) below 10 milligrams of nitrate per liter of water (mg/L) is considered safe for everyone in your family. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standard for nitrate in public water supplies is 10 mg/L.  If nitrate is detected in your water at a concentration above 10 mg/L follow these steps:

• Get your drinking water from safe alternative sources
• Make sure babies under six months old do not drink the well water
• Do not try to boil nitrate out of the well water, boiling will make nitrate more concentrated
• Have a licensed contractor inspect your well
• Identify potential nitrate sources near your well and relocate them further from the well
• Repair damaged wells

Wells vulnerable to elevated nitrate concentrations include shallow wells, wells in sand aquifers, dug wells with casings that are not watertight, and wells with damaged or leaking casings or fittings.  To prevent contamination, keep nitrate sources away from your well, construct new wells in a safe location, and regularly inspect your well for damage.

You are responsible for keeping your well water safe and testing it as needed. MDH recommends you use an accredited laboratory to test your water. Winona County residents can pick up well test kits at the Winona County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 225 W 2nd Street in Winona.

Winona County Township Nitrate Testing – Final Results