Suffolk County, NY well water testing: county health department sampling
Short answer: Apply to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services online through its Accela portal, or mail its request form to 360 Yaphank Avenue, Suite 1C, Yaphank. County staff collect the sample. The fee is $100 for an existing approved well and covers bacteria, inorganic chemicals, VOCs and petroleum products. Call 631-852-5810.
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) estimates 40,000 to 45,000 private wells serving over 200,000 people in the county. [source] Its Office of Water Resources puts it another way: individual private wells supply about 50,000 year-round and seasonal homes, while public water suppliers serve more than 90% of the county's 1.45 million residents. [source] USGS's 2015 county estimate put the self-supplied population at about 79,000. [source]
Generally, the owner of a private well is responsible for their own water supply. [source] SCDHS runs a testing program for existing homes with private wells that gives a comprehensive water quality analysis and recommendations; the county says no other government agency in New York State provides a similar level of commitment to private well water quality. [source]
How the county program works
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | SCDHS Office of Water Resources, Bureau of Drinking Water, 360 Yaphank Avenue, Suite 1C, Yaphank, NY 11980; 631-852-5810; fax 631-852-5787. [source] [source] |
| What's tested | Basic potability, including the chemicals the department has often found in past testing: usually microbiological quality, inorganic chemical content, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and petroleum derivatives. In agricultural areas, carbamate pesticides can also be tested. [source] |
| How to apply online | SCDHS takes Private Well Test Requests on its Accela online portal, where you can pay by credit card and check the status of your application. [source] [source] |
| How to apply by mail | Fill out the Request for Private Well Water Analysis, including your tax map number (from your tax bill), sign it, and mail it to the Bureau of Drinking Water with a check payable to "Suffolk County Department of Health Services" or a notarized fee exemption. [source] [source] The form asks for your family physician's name and address so your doctor can be told of any problems with your water. [source] |
| Who collects the sample | Department staff only. You can't drop off your own sample; staff collect it in specially prepared containers. If you're not home, they can sample from an outside tap or hose bib. Leave the power on so the pump can run, and note that locked fences or loose dogs can prevent sampling. [source] |
| Timing | In most cases a sample is collected within six weeks after the county receives your check. Allow at least eight weeks after collection for results, which come by mail with a cover letter of recommendations. [source] |
| Limits | The county tests only your primary drinking water well, not irrigation wells, and may limit how often a well can be tested. It usually tests raw, unfiltered water unless you or the department ask otherwise. [source] |
Prices (SCDHS fee schedule)
| Request | Fee |
|---|---|
| Existing private well previously approved by the department, or serving a home with a valid Certificate of Occupancy | $100 |
| Well serving new construction, without final department approval, or without a valid Certificate of Occupancy | $350 |
| Aldicarb (Temik) pesticide test only, in agricultural areas where Temik was used | No fee |
Fees cover sample collection and analysis. Households with a cumulative family income under $25,000 can be exempted from the $100 fee by signing and notarizing a Request for Exemption form. [source] On that affidavit, income excludes public assistance payments, and the county may ask for income tax returns or other proof. [source] Even where Temik was used, SCDHS recommends a periodic comprehensive analysis rather than only the free aldicarb test. [source]
Selling a home
For a home being sold, the department suggests using a commercial laboratory, because it can't promise results in time for contract or closing dates. [source] Search the NYSDOH ELAP lab search for a state-certified lab. [source]
Local water quality issues
SCDHS says most wells it tests meet health-based drinking water standards, though natural iron and manganese can be objectionable. A contaminated well nearby doesn't mean yours is, so each well has to be tested. [source]
Farm chemicals: the county says private wells in agricultural areas are particularly susceptible to fertilizers and pesticides. Since 1979 the bureau has surveyed private wells for pesticides, and several chemical manufacturers provide granular activated carbon filtration or other remedies for affected owners based on its findings. Its countywide monitoring network has identified 109 pesticides in groundwater since 1997, with agricultural areas the most heavily impacted. [source]
Other contaminants: emerging contaminants found in Suffolk groundwater include aldicarb metabolites and other pesticide breakdown products, the gasoline additives MTBE and TAME, and perchlorate. When testing finds significant problems that may affect nearby wells, the bureau samples adjacent wells; in Speonk, for example, more than 80 vertical profile wells have been installed since 2002 to investigate VOC contamination found in private wells. [source]
Free PFAS testing (state pilot)
Suffolk is one of six counties in the NYSDOH Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program, which is accepting testing applications there. Eligible owners and renters get a free PFAS test of a household drinking water well. If PFOA or PFOS is at or above 10 ng/L (ppt), property owners may get up to $5,000 for whole-house treatment, up to $1,000 for point-of-use treatment when whole-house isn't feasible, or up to $10,000 to connect to public water. The state may pause applications as it tracks rebate funds. [source]
Suffolk results from the SCDHS Private Well Testing Program dated January 1, 2025 or later can also be used to apply for a rebate. Pilot test results usually take about 4 to 6 weeks after collection. [source] Questions about rebates: pfasrebate@suffolkcountyny.gov or 631-852-5810. [source]
If your water is contaminated
If you're unsure your water is safe, SCDHS says to use bottled water or water from an approved public supply until results arrive. The department will suggest remedies based on what it finds, but it can't require any agency to extend public water or supply bottled water. In severe cases, financial aid may be available from federal (USEPA) or state (NYS DEC) programs. If you rent, your landlord may be responsible for providing safe water. [source]
If coliform bacteria are found, NYSDOH advises boiling water until disinfection and retesting confirm the contamination is gone. [source] Its step-by-step disinfection method circulates a bleach solution through the well and plumbing, and it recommends hiring a water well contractor for point wells or jet pumps. [source] See our coliform guide.
How often to test
NYSDOH advises testing your well for bacteria at least once a year, and for other contaminants every 3–5 years. [source] It says late spring or early summer is the best time to test for coliform. [source]
See our New York guide.
FAQ
Where can I get my well water tested in Suffolk County, New York?
Apply to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services online through its Accela portal, or mail its request form to 360 Yaphank Avenue, Suite 1C, Yaphank. County staff collect the sample. The fee is $100 for an existing approved well and covers bacteria, inorganic chemicals, VOCs and petroleum products. Call 631-852-5810.
How much does well water testing cost in Suffolk County, NY?
The Suffolk County Department of Health Services charges $100 to collect and analyze a sample from an existing private well that the department approved or that serves a home with a valid Certificate of Occupancy, and $350 for new construction or unapproved wells. Households with income under $25,000 can apply for a notarized fee exemption.
Can I drop off my own well water sample with Suffolk County?
No. SCDHS says department staff must collect the sample in specially prepared containers. They can use an outside tap or hose bib if you aren't home.
How long do Suffolk County well water test results take?
In most cases SCDHS collects the sample within six weeks of receiving your check, and you should allow at least eight weeks after collection for mailed results. For a home sale, the county suggests a commercial lab.
Sources
- Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services – Private Well Water Testing Program (accessed 2026-11-10)
- Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services – Request for Private Well Water Analysis (form rev. 1/19/12, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-10)
- Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services – Request for Exemption from the Private Well Testing Fee & Affidavit of Family Income (PDF) (accessed 2026-11-10)
- Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services – Office of Water Resources (accessed 2026-11-10)
- Suffolk County – Accela Citizen Access portal (online Private Well Test Requests) (accessed 2026-11-10)
- NYSDOH – Private Well PFAS Testing and Mitigation Rebate Pilot Program (accessed 2026-11-10)
- NYSDOH – Private Well PFAS Pilot FAQ (accessed 2026-11-10)
- NYSDOH – Private Well PFAS Pilot: Get Help (county contacts) (accessed 2026-11-10)
- NYSDOH – Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water Supplies (accessed 2026-10-27)
- NYSDOH – Restoring Your Private Well: Disinfection (accessed 2026-10-27)
- NYSDOH – Private Wells (accessed 2026-10-21)
- NYSDOH – ELAP lab search (accessed 2026-10-21)
- 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.