Guilford County, NC well water testing: county sampling prices
Short answer: Call Guilford County Environmental Health's Water Quality program at 336-641-7613. Staff come to your home, inspect the well and collect the sample; the office doesn't accept samples brought in. The fee list shows a $65 trip charge plus $50 for bacteria and $70 for the inorganic panel with nitrate/nitrite, or $335 for every test.
Close to 25 percent of Guilford County residents rely on private wells, according to the City of Greensboro's Guilford County Private Wells page. [source] USGS's 2015 county estimate put the self-supplied population at about 101,000. [source]
How county sampling works
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Who runs it | The Water Quality program of Guilford County Environmental Health, part of the county's Department of Public Health. It offers well water testing for private wells: bacteria, inorganics, nitrate/nitrite, petroleum and pesticides. [source] |
| Who collects the sample | County staff come to your home, inspect the well and collect the samples you request. The office can't accept water samples brought in. [source] |
| Where it's analyzed | Bacteria samples are tested locally at the county's Public Health Laboratory. All other samples go to the State of North Carolina's public health laboratory in Raleigh. [source] |
| Results | Bacteria results are generally ready toward the end of the week the sample is collected. Other results usually take about 4 to 6 weeks, depending on the state lab's workload. [source] |
| Contact | Guilford County Water Quality, 336-641-7613; Guilford County Environmental Health, 400 W. Market St., Suite 300, Greensboro, NC 27405; Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. [source] |
Prices (county fee schedule)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Trip charge (added to any sampling) | $65 |
| Bacteria | $50 |
| Inorganic full panel (includes nitrate/nitrite) | $70 |
| Petroleum | $75 |
| Pesticides | $75 |
| All of the above at one visit (trip charge included) | $335 |
Add each test you want to the trip charge: bacteria plus the inorganic panel, for example, is $185 ($65 + $50 + $70). [source] [source] The county's list doesn't include PFAS or radon tests. [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] If you're pregnant or have an infant and nitrates show up, NCDHHS says not to drink the water or use it for baby formula; boiling doesn't remove nitrates. [source] See our nitrate guide and coliform guide.
PFAS near the airport
Guilford County Public Health and NC DEQ sampled private wells near Horsepen and Brush creeks, which collect stormwater from the area around the airport industrial complex, where PFAS were detected. Of 42 wells sampled in December 2018, three showed PFOA and PFOS, below the EPA health advisory then in effect (70 ppt). Another 64 wells were sampled between December 2022 and January 2023. [source]
The county's public health lab isn't designed to test for PFAS, but it can refer residents to labs that are; the city's page names Con-Test Analytical Laboratory, Eurofins Eaton Analytical and Pace Analytical. [source] If a test finds PFOA or PFOS above 4.0 ppt, or another regulated PFAS above its limit, NC DEQ's pilot PFAS Reimbursement Program may cover part or all of a treatment system or a public water connection. You must own the home, the well must be your only drinking water source, and no third party can be offering you alternative water. Call DEQ's Bernard Allen staff at 919-707-8200. [source]
Radon in groundwater
A USGS study done with the Guilford County Department of Health sampled 70 wells across the county and found radon from 37 to 6,300 picocuries per liter, with a median of 735. The highest levels were in younger granites in the northwestern part of the county. USGS says breathing radon is the bigger health risk, so homeowners in high-radon areas should test their indoor air. In most cases, treatment such as aeration or granular activated carbon reduces radon in water. [source] The county's fee list doesn't include a radon test, so use a certified lab. [source]
New and repaired wells
The Water Quality program samples water from all new and repaired wells, and every well installation or repair needs a permit from Environmental Health. [source] The county lists $450 for a well permit, $110 for a repair permit and $220 for a repair permit with camera inspection. [source] Since July 2, 2026, N.C. Session Law 2026-32 (House Bill 376) has made the state's Private Drinking Water Well Program the permitting and inspection program statewide, and Guilford County's own private drinking water well rules were repealed. County staff enforce the state rules. [source] The county says it will adopt revised rules that supplement state requirements to protect groundwater. [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] The NC Cooperative Extension Guilford County Center is at 3309 Burlington Road, Greensboro. [source]
See our North Carolina guide, Wake County guide and Mecklenburg County guide.
FAQ
Where can I get my well water tested in Guilford County, North Carolina?
Call Guilford County Environmental Health's Water Quality program at 336-641-7613. Staff come to your home, inspect the well and collect the sample; the office doesn't accept samples brought in. The fee list shows a $65 trip charge plus $50 for bacteria and $70 for the inorganic panel with nitrate/nitrite, or $335 for every test.
How much does well water testing cost in Guilford County, NC?
Guilford County Environmental Health charges a $65 trip charge on every sampling visit, plus $50 for bacteria, $70 for the inorganic full panel with nitrate/nitrite and $75 each for petroleum or pesticides. Bacteria plus the inorganic panel totals $185, and all tests at once cost $335.
Can I drop off my own well water sample in Guilford County?
No. The county's Water Quality program says it can't accept water samples brought to its office. Staff come to your home, inspect the well and collect the samples. Call 336-641-7613.
Does Guilford County test well water for PFAS?
No. The county's public health lab isn't designed to test for PFAS, but it can refer you to labs that do. If PFAS exceed state or federal limits, NC DEQ's pilot reimbursement program may help pay for treatment.
Sources
- Guilford County Environmental Health – Water Quality (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Guilford County Environmental Health – Fee Schedule (Residential Wells and Water Sampling Fees) (accessed 2026-11-02)
- City of Greensboro – Guilford County Private Wells (archived copy, Feb. 15, 2026) (accessed 2026-11-02)
- NC DEQ – PFAS Treatment System Assistance Program (accessed 2026-11-02)
- USGS Fact Sheet FS-147-97 – Radon in Ground Water in Guilford County, North Carolina (with the Guilford County Department of Health, PDF) (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Guilford County Division of Environmental Health – Letter to Well Contractors on Session Law 2026-32 (HB 376), July 31, 2026 (accessed 2026-11-02)
- Guilford County – Department of Public Health to Host Drop-In Community Forum on Revisions to Local Well Rules (Sept. 15, 2026) (accessed 2026-11-02)
- 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.