If you are interested in contaminant testing that you do not see listed below, please call 952-891-7000 or dcwatertestrequest@co.dakota.mn.us.
Free nitrate testing for Dakota County private well owners
Private well owners in Dakota County can have their drinking water tested for nitrate. Interested individuals can bring a sample to one of four drop-in sessions for testing. Participants will receive results and treatment recommendations, if applicable.
Locations
Those who are interested in participating can collect their samples and bring them to any upcoming drop-in session:
Wednesday, Aug. 7, noon–4 p.m.
Vermillion City Hall, 105 Main St. E., Vermillion
Thursday, Aug. 15, noon–4 p.m.
Dakota County Extension Office, 4100 220th St. W., Farmington
Tuesday, Aug. 20, noon–4 p.m.
Marshan Town Hall, 12497 205th St. E., Hastings
Tuesday, Aug. 27, noon–4 p.m.
Hampton City Hall, 5265 238th St. E., Hampton
Free water testing for Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington and Lakeville
As part of the Community-Focused Sampling Program, private well owners can receive free water testing for both outdoor and indoor faucets. Dakota County aims to provide all private well owners a free water test. Communities will have free testing opportunities on a rotating basis. This sampling does not include bacteria testing.
Households and businesses in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington and Lakeville can now receive a free water test kit. Test your water for common contaminants based on Minnesota Department of Health recommendations. If you would like free testing, please complete the survey.
Complete the free water testing survey
Other free testing
Free coliform bacteria test is also available if your well is flooded.
Other water testing options
For our pre-paid sample kits, test results will be emailed to you from Dakota County with information explaining the results and any recommendations.
- Coliform bacteria — $21
- Nitrate — $21
- Manganese — $21
- Arsenic — $21
- Lead — $21
- Fluoride — $21
Find out more about drinking water contaminants.
Pre-paid drop off sample kit
This option involves ordering a kit from the lab using the link below. Only a recently ordered test kit (no household bottles) will be accepted. If you are requesting a bacteria test, this is the preferred method for sample delivery.
Complete the online water test order form, select the contaminants you wish to test for and select the “Sample Drop off" option. Once you have completed the form and paid for the sample kit, a sample kit will be mailed to you from the lab. Follow the directions in the kit for sample collection and drop off.
Samples can only be dropped off at the Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley.
In the atrium, there is a small refrigerator located near the elevators. Place the samples and paperwork in the box from the lab and place the box in the refrigerator.
Samples for bacteria should be collected after noon on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning and should be dropped off in the refrigerator immediately after sampling. If samples are collected Wednesday morning, they must be dropped off
Wednesday morning before 9 a.m. If the testing does not include bacteria, the samples can be dropped off any time during open hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Pre-paid mail in sample kits
Complete the online water test order form, select the contaminants you wish to test for and select the “Sample Return Shipping" option. Once you have completed the form and paid for the sample kit, a sample kit will be mailed to you from the lab. Follow the directions in the kit for sample collection and return mailing.
If you order a coliform bacteria test for a mail in sample, it will likely exceed the holding time of 30 hours. The lab will still test the sample, but the results will not be valid.
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.
State and local health authorities recommend that private drinking water supplies are tested annually for total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
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: