Where to get drinking water tested

Please remember that if your test results say that there are germs or chemicals in your water, you should contact your local health or environmental department for guidance in interpreting the test. At a minimum, check your well every spring to make sure there are no mechanical problems; test it once each year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels.

If you suspect other contaminants, you should test for those as well. However, spend time identifying potential problems as these tests can be expensive. The best way to start is to consult a local expert, such as the local health department, about local contaminants of concern. You should also have your well tested if:.

State and local health or environmental departments often test for nitrates, total coliforms, fecal coliform, volatile organic compounds, and pH see above. Health or environmental departments, or county governments should have a list of the state-certified licensed laboratories in your area that test for a variety of substances.

For more information, visit one of the links below or contact your local health department or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at To receive updates highlighting our recent work to prevent infectious disease, enter your email address:. Drinking Water.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Well Testing Minus Related Pages. Overview The U. What to test for Several water quality indicators WQIs and contaminants that should be tested for in your water are listed below. Examples of Water Quality Indicators: Total Coliforms Coliform bacteria are microbes found in the digestive systems of warm-blooded animals, in soil, on plants, and in surface water. Examples of Contaminants: Nitrate Nitrate is naturally found in many types of food.

When to have your well tested At a minimum, check your well every spring to make sure there are no mechanical problems; test it once each year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels.

Well type affects how likely your water is to become contaminated and what kind of maintenance procedures you should follow. You may be able to determine the type of well you have by looking at the outer casing and cover of the well.

Yes, as a private well owner, you are responsible for testing your well to ensure the water is safe to drink. EPA is responsible for making sure that the public water supply within the United States is safe. However, EPA does not monitor or treat private well drinking water. Several water quality indicators WQIs and contaminants that should be tested for in your water are listed below.

A WQI test is a test that measures the presence and amount of certain germs in water. Other germs or harmful chemicals that you should test for will depend on where your well is located on your property, which state you live in, and whether you live in an urban or rural area.

These tests could include testing for lead, arsenic, mercury, radium, atrazine, and other pesticides. You should check with your local health or environmental department external icon to find out if any of these contaminants are a problem in your region.

Please remember that if your test results say there are germs or chemicals in your water, you should contact your local health or environmental department for help in interpreting the test, ask for guidance on how to respond to the contamination, and test your water more often. You should have your well tested once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, you should test for those as well. However, spend time identifying potential problems first, as these tests can be expensive.

You should also have your well tested if:. State and local health or environmental departments often test for nitrates, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, volatile organic compounds, and pH. Health or environmental departments, or county governments should also have a list of the state-certified licensed laboratories in your area that test for a variety of Water Quality Indicators WQIs and contaminants.

My well water has a funny smell or taste; should I worry about getting sick? Any time you notice a significant change in your water quality, you should have it tested. However, sometimes changes can be a sign of problems. There are many sources of contamination of ground water. Some of the most common sources of contaminants include:. EPA does not regulate private wells. You are responsible for testing your well water and making sure it is safe. To receive updates highlighting our recent work to prevent infectious disease, enter your email address:.

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Healthy Water Sites. Level 4 Certified Testing uses chain-of-custody with a water professional coming to your home to prepare the water sample. They then work with an accredited laboratory to certify your test results.

This type of testing not only gives you the highest level of assurance in the accuracy of your test results but can also be used as evidence in legal cases. If you are concerned about an existing or proposed activity that may or could impact your drinking water quality you should seek Certified Baseline Testing. See Below. The primary difference between Certified Testing See previous section and Baseline Testing is that baseline testing is Certified Testing to establish your water quality ideally before a proposed activity that may or could impact your drinking water quality.

The goal is not just to confirm that the well meets drinking water standards, but to document the conditions or contaminants in the well to which future changes can be compared. Introduction Bacteria E. Introduction Methane. Services Search. Home Indoor Outdoor Services Search.