Well Water in Red Lake County, MN: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 758 households in Red Lake County, 47% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
Most homes in Red Lake County are on a private well: about 758 households, 47% of the county. That makes Red Lake County one of the places in Minnesota where the water department is the homeowner.
Local rules for wells in Red Lake County
Minnesota’s well code (Rules Chapter 4725) applies in Red Lake 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
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 Red Lake County
No state-certified lab sits within 40 miles of the center of Red Lake County. That is common in rural Minnesota, and the practical answer is a mail-in kit: the lab ships bottles, you sample at the kitchen tap and ship them back cold. The finder below widens the search to the whole state.
No listings yet for this area. Try widening your search.
Licensed well contractors serving Red Lake County
No licensed contractor lists Red Lake County as a home base or service area yet. The finder below searches the whole state; most drillers travel several counties for a job.
No listings yet for this area. Try widening your search.
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.
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: Pennington County, Polk County, Marshall County, Mahnomen County.
What well work costs in Red Lake County
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Red Lake County well owners ask
How many homes in Red Lake County are on a well?
About 758, or 47% 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 Red Lake 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 Red Lake 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 Red Lake 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.