Buncombe County, NC well water testing: county sampling prices
Short answer: Apply to Buncombe County Environmental Health, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, 828-250-5016, with its Water Supply Analysis form. A specialist visits drilled wells: bacteria is $75 and bacteria plus chemical analysis $100, with one free resample if bacteria show up. A self-collected bacteria sample costs $50, hand-delivered to the lab at 40 Coxe Ave.
About 38 percent of Buncombe County residents, or 96,247 people, get their water from private wells, according to the county's 2022 Factbook, which uses USGS's 2015 county estimate. [source] [source] The county's 2021 Community Health Assessment says 61 percent of households use community water systems. [source]
How county sampling works
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | Buncombe County Environmental Health, part of the county's Department of Health. Water sampling and testing is one of its services, and its staff are Registered Environmental Health Specialists. [source] |
| How to request | Fill out the Water Supply Analysis application, either the printable PDF or the online version through the county's Citizen Access portal. [source] The form asks for the property address, its parcel ID (PIN) and directions to the property. [source] You can apply in person, by mail or by fax. Fees must be paid when you apply, by cash, check or credit card. [source] |
| Site visit (drilled wells only) | A specialist inspects the well, if it's accessible, and certifies whether the sample meets state bacteriological standards. If bacteria show up, the service includes a second visit to resample after you've chlorinated the well. [source] The fee schedule lists that first resample at no charge. [source] |
| Self-collect option | A bacteria-only test of a sample you collect yourself. Without a site inspection, the county says the result may not be considered certified, and some lenders require a certified sample, so check with your lender first. [source] |
| Contact | Buncombe County Environmental Health, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, NC 28801; 828-250-5016; EHRequest@buncombenc.gov. Its fax line for septic and well applications is 828-250-6082. Hours are Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. [source] The application form, revised in January 2024, still lists the old 30 Valley St. address. [source] |
Prices (FY2027 county fee schedule)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Bacterial analysis, well site visit | $75 |
| Bacterial + chemical analysis, site visit | $100 |
| Chemical panel | $100 |
| Chemical panel with nitrate/nitrite | $125 |
| Nitrate/nitrite | $50 |
| Pesticides, herbicides, petroleum or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | $100 each |
| Bacteria, self-collected (no site visit) | $50 |
| Resample if positive (initial resample only) | No charge |
Fees in effect July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. [source] The county's application form lists the same prices. [source] A card convenience fee may apply. [source]
Collect it yourself: drop-off rules
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Bottle | Use the sterilized bottle you got when you applied. Don't use it if it's damaged or the lid is loose; call the office for a replacement. [source] |
| Collecting | Use a frequently used tap, such as the kitchen faucet, never a hose. Remove any strainer or aerator, then let the water run 5 minutes. Don't touch the inside of the bottle or cap. Fill to at least the 100 mL line, leaving about ½ inch of air at the top. [source] |
| Delivery | Hand-deliver the sample to the Department of Health lab at 40 Coxe Avenue; don't mail it. Refrigerate it if you can't get it there within an hour. Samples must be analyzed within 30 hours of collection, and older ones can't be tested. [source] |
| Lab drop-off hours | Monday–Wednesday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m.–noon; no samples on Friday. At the kiosk, choose the Environmental Health option and take a number. [source] |
What and how often to test
- Every year: total and fecal coliform bacteria, and check the wellhead for cracks or openings.
- Every two years: heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead and copper.
- Every five years: pesticides and volatile organic compounds, or yearly if a known pesticide is applied nearby.
- Also test after well repairs, flooding or a change in taste, color or odor, and test for nitrates if you're pregnant or have an infant at home. [source]
NC State Extension says the best time for yearly testing is spring or summer following a rainy period. [source] See our nitrate guide and coliform guide.
Radon, iron and manganese in mountain groundwater
Residents outside municipal water systems depend mainly on untreated groundwater from the Blue Ridge crystalline-rock aquifer. The county's Factbook says the region's geology leads to some naturally occurring radon and high levels of iron and manganese, and can make drilling wells difficult in some spots. [source] The county's fee schedule doesn't list a radon test, so use a certified lab for that. [source]
After flooding or Hurricane Helene
NCDHHS says a flooded or damaged well should be inspected, repaired, disinfected and tested before you drink or use the water. [source] After Helene, the state Division of Public Health worked with local health departments to test more than 2,700 wells and handed out more than 9,500 free well water testing kits with disinfection supplies. [source] Buncombe County was one of the health departments giving out free kits in 2024. [source]
Under the county's Reduce to Rebuild program, residential permits from Public Health onsite wastewater and other county departments are free for documented Helene-damaged or destroyed primary residences. It covers permits applied for from June 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. [source]
If coliform is found
Disinfecting the well, its piping and the water heater is needed if tests show bacteria or flood water got into the well. The standard method brings the well to at least 100 parts per million of chlorine; "shock chlorination," at 200 ppm or more, is usually recommended when bacteria are found. Only the well owner, plumbers installing or repairing well pumps, and certified well contractors may break a well seal. Retest for bacteria about 7 to 10 days after disinfecting, and find and fix the source so it doesn't come back. [source] With the county's site-visit service, the first resample after a positive result is free. [source] [source]
New wells and well records
The county's well permit fee is $350. [source] Well permit applications go in with septic permit applications unless public, community or shared water will serve the project. [source] The county posts a how-to guide for searching its well and septic records online. [source] As of 2021, the county had 4,754 permitted wells, but it didn't require well permits before 2005, according to the county's Environmental Health director, so older wells may not have a permit record. [source] Statewide, new private wells must be tested within 30 days of completion. [source]
Other certified labs
You can also hire a state-certified commercial lab; search the State Laboratory certified laboratory search. [source] [source] NC State Extension says your county Extension office can also provide a list of certified water quality labs. [source]
See our North Carolina guide, Guilford County guide, Mecklenburg County guide and Wake County guide.
FAQ
Where can I get my well water tested in Buncombe County, North Carolina?
Apply to Buncombe County Environmental Health, 35 Woodfin St., Asheville, 828-250-5016, with its Water Supply Analysis form. A specialist visits drilled wells: bacteria is $75 and bacteria plus chemical analysis $100, with one free resample if bacteria show up. A self-collected bacteria sample costs $50, hand-delivered to the lab at 40 Coxe Ave.
How much does well water testing cost in Buncombe County, NC?
Buncombe County Environmental Health charges $75 for a bacteria test with a well site visit, $100 for bacteria plus chemical analysis, $125 for the chemical panel with nitrate/nitrite, $50 for nitrate/nitrite and $100 each for pesticides, herbicides, petroleum or VOCs.
Can I drop off my own well water sample in Buncombe County?
Yes, for bacteria only. Apply for the $50 self-collect test, collect the sample in the county's sterile bottle and hand-deliver it within 30 hours to the lab at 40 Coxe Avenue, Monday to Wednesday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or Thursday until noon.
Is a self-collected well test good enough for a mortgage in Buncombe County?
Maybe not. The county says a self-collected sample may not be considered certified without a site inspection, and some lenders require a certified sample. Its $75 site-visit service includes a well inspection and certifies the bacteria result.
Sources
- Buncombe County Environmental Health – Water Supply Analysis Application (revised 01/24, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- Buncombe County – Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- Buncombe County – Environmental Health (accessed 2026-11-04)
- Buncombe County Environmental Health Services – Directions for Collecting Water Sample (PDF) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- NC DENR Division of Water Quality – How to Disinfect Your Water Well (posted by Buncombe County Environmental Health, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- Buncombe County Factbook 2022 – Our Infrastructure & Energy (PDF) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- Buncombe County – 2021 Community Health Assessment (PDF) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- NCDHHS Division of Public Health – Free Well Water Collection and Disinfection Kits for Helene-Affected Communities (Oct. 22, 2024) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- Governor's Recovery Office for Western NC – Restoring Safe Drinking Water in Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene (Sept. 9, 2025) (accessed 2026-11-04)
- NCDHHS – Private Well Water Testing FAQs (accessed 2026-10-23)
- NC State Extension – Should You Have Your Water Tested? (AG-473-2, reviewed Oct. 28, 2024) (accessed 2026-10-29)
- NC State Laboratory of Public Health – Certified 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.