Testing

Testing your well water

Nobody tests a private well for you. Here is the minimum, and how to decide what to add.

The baseline, for every well

Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli) — every year, and after flooding or any work on the well.
Nitrate — every year, especially near farms or septic fields. Essential if an infant drinks the water.
pH, hardness, total dissolved solids, iron and manganese — every few years.

Then test for your rock

Many of the contaminants USGS most often finds above health limits in private wells — arsenic, radon, uranium, fluoride — come from the rock, and none of them can be seen, smelled or tasted. Basic panels often leave them out. Look up your aquifer to see which ones are documented where you live, then add them.

Use a state-certified laboratory. Your state or county health department can point you to one, and some offer free or low-cost testing for well owners.

Full testing guide coming soon. Each contaminant page covers how that one is tested.