Anoka County, MN well water testing: county program prices
Short answer: Pick up a kit at the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 3rd Ave N, Suite 600, Anoka, or a participating city hall. Drop off the sample and pay in person Mondays 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or Tuesdays 8:30–11:30 a.m. The county charges $17 each for coliform bacteria and nitrate.
Anoka County estimates about 25,000 private wells in service throughout the county, and says only a small percentage of them are tested each year. [source] Its well-testing brochure says over 30% of county residents are served by a private water well. [source] USGS's 2015 county estimate put the self-supplied population at about 83,000. [source]
Testing a private well is the owner's responsibility. Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services runs a well water testing program through a contract with a state-certified water testing laboratory. [source] [source]
How county testing works
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | Anoka County Public Health and Environmental Services, Environmental Services unit. Samples are analyzed by a contracted state-certified lab. [source] [source] |
| Standard test | A "sanitary analysis": coliform bacteria (present/absent, with an E. coli result) and nitrate-nitrogen. The county recommends it every year. [source] [source] |
| Getting a kit | Kits must be picked up ahead of time, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (excluding holidays), on the 6th floor of the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 3rd Ave N, Suite 600, Anoka. Coliform bacteria and nitrate kits are also at the city and township offices listed below; metals kits are only at the Government Center. [source] |
| Bottles | Use the county's sample bottles; samples collected in other bottles from home are not accepted. Each test needs its own bottle. [source] |
| Drop-off and payment | In person at the Environmental Services front desk, Mondays 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and Tuesdays 8:30–11:30 a.m., excluding holidays. Collect bacteria and nitrate samples as close to drop-off time as possible so they don't exceed their holding time. [source] Checks are made out to Anoka County; cash and credit/debit cards are also accepted. [source] |
| Results | The county currently estimates about 3–4 weeks. If you need results faster, it points to private state-accredited labs. [source] |
| Contact | Environmental Services, 763-324-4260; environmental.health@anokacountymn.gov. For specific water questions or tests not on the list, call Maggie Huettl at 763-324-4207. [source] |
Prices (Anoka County Well Water Testing page)
| Test | Fee |
|---|---|
| Coliform bacteria | $17 |
| Nitrates | $17 |
| Arsenic | $17 |
| Manganese | $17 |
| Lead | $18 |
| Copper | $17 |
| Iron | $17 |
| Fluoride | $17 |
| Chloride | $17 |
| Sulfate | $18 |
| Conductivity | $17 |
| Phosphorus | $17 |
| Total hardness | $35 |
| Mercury | $45 |
| Iron bacteria | $60 |
Fees as listed on the county's Well Water Testing page. The yearly bacteria-plus-nitrate sanitary analysis comes to $34. [source] The county's 2020 arsenic fact sheet lists an older $15 arsenic price; the current page lists $17. [source]
Kit pickup sites (bacteria and nitrate)
Besides the Government Center in Anoka, the county lists these locations, open during their regular business hours: [source]
- Andover City Hall
- Anoka Conservation District
- Bethel City Hall
- Blaine City Hall
- Blaine Public Works (1801 101st Ave NE, Blaine)
- Centerville City Hall
- Columbus City Hall
- East Bethel City Hall
- Ham Lake City Hall
- Lino Lakes City Hall
- Linwood Township Hall
- Nowthen City Hall
- Oak Grove City Hall
- Ramsey City Hall
What to test
Anoka County Environmental Services and MDH recommend testing all well water for coliform bacteria and nitrate every year, lead at least once, and manganese before a baby drinks the water. [source] MDH also recommends testing at least once for arsenic. [source] All of these are on the county's price list. [source]
Nitrate: the county says nitrate-nitrogen occurs naturally in groundwater below 1 mg/L and can seep into wells from septic systems, fertilizers, animal feedlots and landfills. MDH's Health Risk Limit is 10 mg/L; above that, levels may pose an immediate risk to infants and pregnant women. [source] See our nitrate guide.
Arsenic: the county says most Anoka County residents have some measurable arsenic in their well water. It has no taste or odor, so testing is the only way to know. EPA's limit for public water is 10 µg/L, and EPA's goal is 0. Typical water softeners and activated carbon filters won't remove arsenic on their own, and boiling only concentrates it; reverse osmosis, specialty media and distillation are the most common treatments. [source]
If coliform or E. coli is found
If total coliform is present and E. coli is absent, the county says to disinfect the well and building plumbing, including any treatment equipment; instructions come with results from the county program. A licensed well contractor can do it, or the owner can. Resample at least 10 days after disinfecting, and consult a licensed well contractor if two attempts still leave coliform present. [source]
If E. coli is present, the county recommends retesting right away, preferably at a private state-accredited lab for faster results, disinfecting before that result comes back, and using boiled or bottled water for cooking and drinking until the water no longer tests positive. Boiling can concentrate nitrate or arsenic if those are also high. [source] See our coliform guide.
Other labs
MDH's October 2026 list of accredited labs that accept samples from private well users includes one lab in Anoka County: Instrumental Research, Inc., 7800 Main Street NE, Fridley, 763-571-3698. [source] You can also search MDH's accredited laboratory search. [source] The county's page also notes that Twin City Water Clinic is offering a limited number of free tests for total coliform, nitrate, arsenic, lead and manganese. [source]
See our Minnesota guide.
FAQ
Where can I get my well water tested in Anoka County, Minnesota?
Pick up a kit at the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 3rd Ave N, Suite 600, Anoka, or a participating city hall. Drop off the sample and pay in person Mondays 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. or Tuesdays 8:30–11:30 a.m. The county charges $17 each for coliform bacteria and nitrate.
How much does well water testing cost in Anoka County, MN?
Anoka County's Well Water Testing page lists $17 each for coliform bacteria and nitrates, so the yearly sanitary analysis is $34. Arsenic, manganese, copper, iron and fluoride are $17 each, lead $18, total hardness $35, mercury $45 and iron bacteria $60.
Where do I drop off a well water sample in Anoka County?
At the Environmental Services front desk on the 6th floor of the Anoka County Government Center, 2100 3rd Ave N, Anoka, in person on Mondays 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or Tuesdays 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., excluding holidays. Payment is due at drop-off.
How long do Anoka County well water test results take?
The county currently estimates about 3 to 4 weeks. If you need results sooner, for example for a real estate sale, it suggests a private state-accredited lab.
Sources
- Anoka County, MN – Well Water Testing (Public Health and Environmental Services) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- Anoka County Environmental Services – Water Testing Frequently Asked Questions (05/2023, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- Anoka County Environmental Services – Testing Your Private Water Well (PDF) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- Anoka County Environmental Services – Bacteria in Well Water (01/2021, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- Anoka County Environmental Services – Arsenic in Well Water (05/2020, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- Minnesota Dept. of Health – Accredited Labs in Minnesota Accepting Drinking Water Samples from Private Well Users (October 2026, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-09)
- Minnesota Dept. of Health – Well Testing, Results, and Options (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Minnesota Dept. of Health – Accredited laboratory search (accessed 2026-10-23)
- USGS – Estimated Use of Water in the United States, County-Level Data for 2015 (domestic self-supplied population) (accessed 2026-10-23)
Informational only, not health, medical, legal or real-estate advice. Programs and fees change; confirm with the official source. See our disclaimer and affiliate disclosure.