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Test your well water first

Before you buy any treatment, find out what is actually in your water. A lab test costs far less than the wrong system, and it tells you whether you need a whole-house system at all.

Printable lab checklist What a lab charges

Reviewed Oct 31, 2026 · 13 sources · How we research

A hand fills a glass of water at a black kitchen faucet by a bright window

A sample starts at your kitchen tap

Photo: Shixart1985 · CC BY 2.0 · modified

What to test, and how often

Three rhythms cover most wells. Your county may add a few for your area.

Your well is your responsibility. Federal drinking-water rules cover public systems, not private wells: "private well owners are responsible for delivering safe drinking water to their households".1

  1. 1a year

    • Total coliform bacteria, with E. coli follow-up2, 3, 4
    • Nitrate2
    • pH and total dissolved solids, or every 3 years per Penn State Extension3, 4

  2. 3years

    • A full mineral panel: iron, manganese, hardness and more, at least every 3 years5

  3. 1×at least once

    • Arsenic and lead6

VOCs, mercury, radium and pesticides depend on your area: ask your local or state health department. Test more often if infants, children, older people, or pregnant or nursing people live in the house.2, 3

Add tests for what's near your well

Penn State Extension suggests extra tests every 3 years, depending on nearby land use.4

Farming
Nitrate, pesticide scans
Septic systems
Nitrate, bacteria
Road de-icing
Sodium, chloride
Gas stations
Petroleum products
Gas or oil drilling
Chloride, barium
Mining
Iron, manganese, sulfate, aluminum
Industry
Organic chemical scans

Test again when something changes

The CDC advises testing again when:2

  • you hear about well problems in your area;
  • there is flooding, digging or waste disposal near the well;
  • any part of the well system is repaired or replaced;
  • the water's taste, color or smell changes;
  • someone in the house becomes pregnant, or a baby joins the household.

After shock chlorination, wait 5–7 days and test again for coliform and E. coli.7

What a lab test costs: one real price list

Prices vary by state and lab. Here is the 2026 list of one state-certified university lab, UW–Stevens Point in Wisconsin, valid through Dec 31, 2026.8

$153

The basic homeowner panel plus standard metals at this lab ($78 + $75): bacteria, nitrate, pH, hardness, iron and manganese in one go.8

UW–Stevens Point, 2026 prices8

Homeowner (basic) coliform bacteria, nitrate + nitrite, pH, alkalinity, total hardness, chloride, conductivity, corrosivity index
$78
Standard metals (14 elements) iron, manganese, copper, sodium, sulfate, and screens for arsenic, lead and uranium
$75
Comprehensive homeowner homeowner + metals + atrazine screen
$191
Single items
Coliform/E. coli $30 · nitrate + nitrite $29 · one metal $30 · low-level arsenic, lead or uranium $55 each

If arsenic shows up, ask the lab about speciation (arsenic III vs. arsenic V). Most labs report total arsenic, but the form decides which treatment works.9

How to find a certified lab

Use a state-certified laboratory. Three places to look:

  • Your health department

    Your county or state health or environmental department should have a list of certified labs.2, 3

  • EPA's state contacts

    The EPA publishes the lab-certification contact for every state. It doesn't test home water itself.10

  • Your county

    Some county health departments test wells themselves.6

Why home test strips aren't enough

Strips are fine for a quick look at hardness or pH between lab tests. They can't tell you that water is safe. Many contaminants, such as arsenic and lead, can't be seen, smelled or tasted.6, 9 Connecticut's health department warns that home kits "may not provide accurate results".11

Be careful with "free water tests" from salespeople. Penn State Extension warns that vendors "may use colorful home water tests or other methods to scare or pressure homeowners", and advises: "Confirm home water test results through an independent lab".12 Minnesota's health department lists in-home "tests" by salespeople as a warning sign of a scam.13

Got a lab booked? Next steps

Sources (13) · checked Oct 31, 2026
  1. EPA: EPA, Private Drinking Water Wells (2026-08-25; checked 2026-10-31)
  2. CDC: CDC, Guidelines for Testing Well Water (2024-07-01; checked 2026-10-31)
  3. EPA: EPA, Protect Your Home's Water (2026-02-26; checked 2026-10-31)
  4. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Testing Your Drinking Water (2025-06-02; checked 2026-10-31)
  5. UGA Extension: UGA Ext. Bulletin 939, Water Quality and Common Treatments for Private Drinking Water Systems (2026-07-01; checked 2026-10-31)
  6. Minnesota Dept. of Health: Minnesota DOH, Well water testing (2025-05-20; checked 2026-10-31)
  7. UGA Extension: UGA Ext. C858-4, Shock Chlorination (2026-04-17; checked 2026-10-31)
  8. UW–Stevens Point lab: UW–Stevens Point WEAL, 2026 Analysis Price List (valid to 2026-12-31; checked 2026-10-31)
  9. Maryland MDE: Maryland Dept. of the Environment, Arsenic Water Treatment for Individual Wells (hosted by UMD Ext.) (Feb 2008; checked 2026-10-31)
  10. EPA: EPA, Certified labs contacts (2026-08-11; checked 2026-10-31)
  11. Connecticut DPH: Connecticut DPH, Publication 18: pH-Acidity of Private Wells (May 2009; checked 2026-10-31)
  12. Penn State Extension: Penn State Ext., Tips for Buying Water Treatment Equipment (2026-07-01; checked 2026-10-31)
  13. Minnesota Dept. of Health: Minnesota DOH, Beware of Water Treatment Scams (2022-12-08; checked 2026-10-31)