Well Water in Lac qui Parle County, MN: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 1,226 households in Lac qui Parle County, 45% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
In Lac qui Parle County, roughly 45% of households, about 1,226 homes, draw their water from a private well. Nobody tests it, treats it or inspects it unless the owner does.
Local rules for wells in Lac qui Parle County
In Lac qui Parle County the Minnesota Department of Health licenses the contractor, receives the well notification and record, and requires a bacteria, nitrate and arsenic test on every new well. When the property changes hands the seller must disclose every well on it; the water test is up to the buyer. The state’s recommended schedule is below.
At a glance
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.
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.
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.
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 Lac qui Parle County
Lac qui Parle County has no certified lab within 40 miles, so most owners here test by mail. Order bottles from a certified lab, sample from the cold tap before any treatment, and ship the same day with an ice pack.
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Licensed well contractors serving Lac qui Parle County
No licensed contractor lists Lac qui Parle County as a home base or service area yet. The finder below searches the whole state; most drillers travel several counties for a job.
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Well depth and water chemistry
Well depth and water chemistry in Lac qui Parle County follow the rock underneath it. Depth varies across the county; the state well record search shows logs for nearby wells.
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
- 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: Yellow Medicine County, Chippewa County, Swift County, Big Stone County.
What well work costs in Lac qui Parle County
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Lac qui Parle County well owners ask
How many homes in Lac qui Parle County are on a well?
About 1,226, or 45% 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 Lac qui Parle County?
There is no certified lab within 40 miles. Use a mail-in kit from a Minnesota certified lab, or the county health department if it collects samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Lac qui Parle 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 Lac qui Parle 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.