Water Information and Management

COVID-19 Information

According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water supplies and the current risk to drinking water is low. Click here for more information on Drinking Water and COVID-19.

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Price Changes for Well Water Testing Starting January 1st, 2023 

Anoka County has adjusted our well water testing prices, see below for updated prices of common tests. 

  • Sanitary Analysis - $35
  • Bacteria only / re-test - $17
  • Nitrates only / re-test - $17
  • Arsenic - $17
  • Lead - $18
  • Manganese - $17

If you would like more information about pricing, or want to know the prices of our other tests, please call (763) 324-4207. 

General Operations for Well Water Testing – See Details Below!

Anoka County Environmental Services has expanded the well water testing program’s capacity by increasing the collection hours and offering more analyses. 

Our collection dates will be every Monday from 9:00am - 4:00pm and Tuesday from 9:00am - 11:30am (excluding holidays). Additionally, we will now accept tests for the following contaminants:

  • Sanitary Analysis (Bacteria and Nitrates)
  • Arsenic
  • Chloride
  • Copper
  • Fluoride
  • Total hardness
  • Iron & Iron bacteria
  • Lead
  • Manganese
  • Mercury
  • Conductivity
  • Sulfate
  • Phosphorus 

The 6th floor of the Anoka County Government Center is accessible to the public. Please come up the elevator to floor 6 and enter the lobby to the left of the elevators to pick up testing kits and drop-off your sample.

Below are the criteria for dropping off a sample:

  • Water test kits must be obtained ahead of time, and are available for pick-up during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm (excluding holidays).
  • The sanitary analysis and metal's analysis kits are currently available for pick-up at the 6th floor of the Anoka County Government Center in the Public Health and Environmental Services Office. Additionally, sanitary analysis test kits can be picked up at your local city hall (locations are listed below).
  • We will now only be accepting drop-offs and payment in person at the Anoka County Environmental Services Front Desk every Monday (9:00am - 4:00pm) and Tuesday (9:00am - 11:30am) excluding holidays. 
  • Samples for sanitary analysis (bacteria and nitrate), and the contaminants listed above are accepted at this time. If other testing is desired, please call Michael Wagner at (763) 324-4207 to see if those test can be offered through us, or a private laboratory can be recommended.
  • Samples for sanitary analysis (bacteria and nitrate) must be collected as close to the drop-off time as possible to avoid exceeding the holding time of the sample, which can result in inaccurate results. 
  • Specific water-related questions can be directed ahead of time to Michael Wagner at (763) 324-4207.

Water test kits for sanitary analysis are currently available at the following locations during their regular business hours:

  • Andover City Hall
  • Bethel City Hall (23860 Dewey St NW)
  • Blaine City Hall
  • Blaine Public Works (1801 101st Ave NE, Blaine; (763) 785-6165 – please call ahead)
  • 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
  • St. Francis City Hall 

Water Education

Anoka County is a sponsor and partner of the Metro Area Children’s Water Festival, an annual event that is held on the last Wednesday of September. The festival has been held every year since 1998 and provides water resources education to 4th grade students throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Know The Flow

Know The Flow is a water resources management initiative to provide public information and coordination among Anoka County agencies, communities, and watershed management organizations. The website provides partners, residents, businesses, and property owners with information and events regarding the County’s water resources.

Water Resources Report

Anoka County maintains a Water Resources Report (PDF) produced by the Public Health and Environmental Services Department through collaboration with the Water Resources Management Task Force. The report provides an overview of the County’s water resources and guidance for a comprehensive approach to the management and protection of local water resources

Water Resources Management Task Force

The Anoka County Water Resources Management Task Force (Task Force) is an information-sharing forum for local partners to address water-related goals and emerging issues, and to collaborate with the Public Health and Environmental Services Department on updating the Anoka County Water Resources Report every 5 years. Partners include state and county agencies, watershed management organizations, municipalities, industries, citizen groups, and private citizens. The Task Force hosts speakers and presentations, updates one another on projects, and shares resources towards achieving mutual goals.