County providing free water testing
Dakota County is in the process of providing free water testing to properties with a private drinking water well in the county over the next five years. The water test kit will be mailed to the property for a free water test for manganese, chloride, nitrate, arsenic and lead.
Tests are available to the following communities during summer 2020:
- Apple Valley
- Coates
- Douglas Township
- Eagan
- Hampton
- Hastings
- Marshan Township
- Miesville
- New Trier
- Northfield (in Dakota County)
- Randolph
- Rosemount
- Vermillion
Tests will not include coliform bacteria, which is recommended every year for private wells.
For communities not listed above, or to test for coliform bacteria, please complete an online water test order form.
Water testing option due to COVID-19
Dakota County is not currently accepting drop-off water samples at county facilities due to COVID-19. Instead, you can complete the online water test order form.
If you order a coliform bacteria test for a mail in sample, it will likely exceed the ideal holding time of 30 hours. The lab will still test the sample.
The online order form allows you to select the contaminants you'd like to test for and pay online. A sample kit will be mailed to you from the laboratory in 7-10 business days. The kit will contain sample bottles, instructions, forms and a postage prepaid mailer to return the sample to the lab. Test results will be emailed to you from Dakota County with information explaining the results and any recommendations.
For questions on what to test for or the online order process, please call 952-891-7000 or email dcwatertestrequest@co.dakota.mn.us.
Find out more about these drinking water contaminants.
This site will be updated as other testing and drop-off options become available.
Annual water testing
Residents can conduct annual water testing through the county. Water testing is an inexpensive and effective way of assuring a safe and healthy water supply.
Water testing is required when there is a property transaction that includes any potable wells. When there is a property transaction, Dakota County requires that water samples be collected by an independent third party (County personnel, agent of a certified lab, well contractor or septic system compliance inspector).
State and local health authorities recommend that private drinking water supplies are tested annually for total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
Get a test kit
Residents interested in water testing can order a water test kit online.
The test kit consists of two bottles — one for coliform bacteria testing and one for all other testing.
Cost of testing
Residents are responsible for the cost of tests. You are mailing your sample to a state-certified laboratory to test for the following contaminants, as you request:
- Coliform bacteria – $18*
- Nitrate – $18
- Manganese – $18
- Arsenic – $18
- Lead – $18
- Fluoride – $18
- Shipping and handling –$15
* If you order a coliform bacteria test for a mail in sample, it will likely exceed the ideal holding time of 30 hours. The lab will still test the sample.
Find out more about these drinking water contaminants.
If you are interested in other potential contaminant testing, please call 952-891-7000 or dcwatertestrequest@co.dakota.mn.us.
Collecting your own sample
Carefully follow the water sample collection instructions inside the test kit. You can also see instructional videos on how to collect the sample: