The Anoka County Community Health and Environmental Services
Department, in cooperation with 12 municipalities, is sponsoring its
ninth annual “Well Water Wise” (3W) promotion May 5-9 to encourage
residents to check the safety of their private well water.
County residents may pick up a well water test kit at
participating city and township offices (listed below) or in the
county’s Environmental Services Unit, Room 360 of the Anoka County
Government Center, 2100 3rd Ave. in Anoka. Water samples can be
submitted to the county’s Environmental Services Unit for analysis
every Monday from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to
noon. During 3W week, samples can be submitted Monday through
Thursday (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and Friday (before noon). The well
water testing kit will include details about water collection and
submission. A laboratory fee of $30.00 will be charged.
Anoka County’s 3W promotion coincides with National Safe Drinking
Water Week. The purpose of 3W is to raise awareness of the need to
test and maintain the safety of household wells. Residents are
encouraged to perform an annual sanitary analysis to determine the
concentration of nitrate-nitrogen and the presence of coliform
bacteria in their drinking water supply.
Unlike public water utilities, private well water is not treated
with chlorine to kill bacteria. Simply looking at the appearance of
drinking water is not a reliable indicator of whether it is safe to
drink. An annual coliform bacteria test is a good way to ensure that
water continues to be free of bacteria.
Nitrate-nitrogen occurs naturally in groundwater and in wells at
concentrations below one milligram per liter (mg/L). The Minnesota
Department of Health has established a Health Risk Limit (HRL) for
nitrate-nitrogen at 10 mg/L. Levels above that point may pose an
immediate risk to infants and pregnant women. Nitrogen can seep into
private wells from a variety of sources including septic systems,
nitrogen fertilizers, animal feedlots, and landfills.
The testing of private wells used for drinking water is the
responsibility of individual owners. There are an estimated 25,000
wells in service throughout Anoka County. Only a small percentage of
private wells are tested annually.
In addition to testing for nitrate-nitrogen and the presence of
coliform bacteria, the Community Health and Environmental Services
Department also can provide analyses for arsenic, lead, fluoride,
iron, chloride, and total hardness.
For more information about well water testing, call the
Environmental Services Unit at 763-422-7063.
Well Water Wise Participating Communities and Agencies
City of Andover
Public Works Office
1785 Crosstown Blvd. NW
City of Blaine
City Hall
10801 Town Square Drive
Burns Township
Township Hall
19800 Nowthen Blvd. NW
City of Centerville
City Hall
1880 Main Street
City of Columbus
City Hall
16319 Kettle River Blvd. NE
City of East Bethel
City Hall
2241 221st Avenue NE
City of Ham Lake
City Hall
15544 Central Avenue NE
City of Lino Lakes
City Hall
600 Town Center Parkway
Linwood Township
Township Hall
22817 Typo Creek Drive NE
City of Oak Grove
City Hall
19900 Nightingale St. NW
City of Ramsey
City Hall
7550 Sunwood Drive NW
City of St. Francis
City Hall
23340 Cree St NW, #730
Anoka Conservation District
16015 Central Avenue, Suite 103
Ham Lake
