AC Analytical & Consulting LLC
MN certified
Homeowner samples ยท Mail-in kits
- Coliform Bacteria
- Nitrate / Nitrite
Minnesota county well guide
Well Water in Clearwater County, MN: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 2,633 households in Clearwater County, 75% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
1licensed contractors serve the county
25 mito the nearest certified lab, AC Analytical & Consulting LLC
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
Most homes in Clearwater County are on a private well: about 2,633 households, 75% of the county. That makes Clearwater County one of the places in Minnesota where the water department is the homeowner.
Local rules for wells in Clearwater County
Minnesota’s well code (Rules Chapter 4725) applies in Clearwater County: the licensed well contractor files a notification with the Department of Health before drilling and must have the new well tested for coliform bacteria, nitrate and arsenic before it is used. At sale, state law requires a well disclosure statement and certificate listing every well on the property, but no water test.
At a glance
Water test for a new wellRequired
The licensed well contractor must have every new well tested for coliform bacteria, nitrate and arsenic before it is put into service, and must file a well notification with MDH before drilling. Results go to the owner and to MDH.
Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide
No water test is required, but Minnesota requires a Well Disclosure Statement in the purchase agreement and a Well Disclosure Certificate filed with the deed listing every well on the property and whether it is in use or sealed.
What the state recommends
MDH recommends testing for coliform bacteria every year, nitrate every other year (every year if an infant or pregnant woman drinks the water), and arsenic, lead and manganese at least once. Retest after any repair, flooding or change in taste, color or odor.
Free or low-cost testingAvailable
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture and many counties and soil and water conservation districts run free or low-cost nitrate screening clinics; several county health departments run accredited labs that accept homeowner samples.
Getting your water tested near Clearwater County
1 certified lab within 40 miles serve Clearwater County, starting with AC Analytical & Consulting LLC in Puposky (about 25 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.
1 certified labs within 40 miles
Licensed well contractors serving Clearwater County
1 licensed contractor serve Clearwater County, including Anderson Well Drilling and Repair, Inc. Each profile carries the state license number and the date we checked it, and the filters below sort them by drilling, pump work or treatment.
1 licensed contractors
Anderson Well Drilling and Repair, Inc.
Verified license
License WCL-267 Active
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
- Well Abandonment
- Well Drilling
- Well Repair
Well depth and water chemistry
What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer. A first full panel tells you which of them apply to your well.
Typical well depth
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
Contaminants to test for
- Arsenic (about 1 in 10 wells statewide exceed the standard)
- Nitrate (southeast karst and central sands)
- Manganese
- Coliform bacteria
- Iron
- Hardness
- Fluoride
- Radium and radon (bedrock aquifers)
- PFAS (east metro and airport areas)
Neighboring counties: Beltrami County, Mahnomen County, Hubbard County, Red Lake County.
What well work costs in Clearwater County
Basic bacteria and nitrate test$25 to $75lab fee, homeowner sample
Full panel lab test$150 to $400metals, VOCs, radiologicals
Well inspection$250 to $550flow, pressure, visual, water test
Submersible pump replacement$1,200 to $4,500parts and labor
Pressure tank replacement$400 to $1,200installed
Whole-house treatment system$800 to $6,000softener, iron filter, UV, RO
New well drilled$5,500 to $25,000about $25 to $65 per foot
Shock chlorination$80 to $300or about $20 as a DIY job
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Clearwater County well owners ask
How many homes in Clearwater County are on a well?
About 2,633, or 75% of households, based on Census housing data and state well surveys. The share is highest outside the towns with public water.
Where is the closest certified lab to Clearwater County?
AC Analytical & Consulting LLC in Puposky, about 25 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Clearwater County?
Yes. The licensed well contractor files a well notification with the Minnesota Department of Health before drilling. Some counties (for example Dakota and Olmsted) run delegated well programs with their own permit.
What does a well test cost near Clearwater County?
A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. County health department labs and soil and water conservation districts run low-cost nitrate clinics, and MDH-accredited labs list which of them accept homeowner samples.