Find where to get your well water tested, state by state
Short answer: Start with your local health department, which the EPA says may test private wells for free, then a state-certified lab or a state program such as Virginia's $70 VAHWQP clinic kit. The EPA and CDC both say to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH.
Private wells are the owner's responsibility. The EPA advises testing a private well every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and notes your local health department may offer private well testing for free. [source]
State guides
Guides
- Where to get well water tested (all options)
- Mail-in kit vs. certified lab vs. county program
- Well water smells like rotten eggs
- Buying a house with a well: testing checklist
- How to collect a bacteria sample
- How often to test well water
- What to test well water for
- How long results take
- Coliform-positive result: what to do
- Safe nitrate levels
County guides
- Loudoun County, VA
- Hunterdon County, NJ
- Chester County, PA
- Lancaster County, PA
- Prince George's County, MD
- Erie County, NY
- Onondaga County, NY
- Monroe County, NY
- Oakland County, MI
- Wake County, NC
- Mecklenburg County, NC
- Waukesha County, WI
- Frederick County, MD
- Guilford County, NC
- Stark County, OH
- Buncombe County, NC
- Forsyth County, NC
- Genesee County, MI
- Summit County, OH
- Lake County, IL
- Anoka County, MN
- Suffolk County, NY
FAQ
Where can I get my well water tested?
Start with your local health department, which the EPA says may test private wells for free, then a state-certified lab or a state program such as Virginia's $70 VAHWQP clinic kit. The EPA and CDC both say to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH.
Sources
- US EPA – Protect Your Home's Water (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.