Well testing is a process that measures the presence and amount of certain contaminants in the drinking water of a privately owned well. The test is typically coordinated by the well owner, who collects a sample from the main drinking water source in the home (typically the kitchen faucet) and sends the sample to a licensed laboratory to have the contents examined. This is a preventative step to help identify any contaminants that could harm you, like E. coli, or other bacteria.
I’ve been around wells my whole life, growing up in a rural area where public water systems weren’t an option. Testing the well was just something we did every year, like clockwork, because you never know what might sneak into the water. Beyond bacteria like E. coli, which can cause serious stomach issues, there’s also the risk of naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, which is more common in certain regions than you’d think. For instance, studies from the U.S. Geological Survey show that about 7% of private wells in the U.S. have arsenic levels above safe drinking standards. The testing process itself isn’t too complicated, but it’s critical to follow the lab’s instructions to the letter to avoid skewed results. A pro tip I’ve learned: run the faucet for a few minutes before collecting the sample to clear out any stagnant water in the pipes. It makes a difference.
Well Testing Identifies Whether There Are Risks to Your Health
One of the drawbacks of a private well is that it is not maintained by the local government, so in order to ensure that you are drinking clean water, the well needs to be tested. The purpose of well testing is to look for any possible contaminants in your drinking water that could negatively impact your health. Common contaminants include fecal coliforms, nitrates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), lead, and other germs or chemical compounds that could pose a risk.
Let’s be real—nobody wants to think about drinking water that might have fecal coliforms (yuck!). But these contaminants can come from nearby septic systems or agricultural runoff, especially after heavy rain. Nitrates, often from fertilizers, are another big concern, particularly for families with young kids, since high levels can cause blue baby syndrome, a serious condition in infants. The EPA notes that about 15% of private wells in agricultural areas exceed safe nitrate levels. I’ve seen neighbors panic when their test results came back with high VOCs, which can creep in from nearby industrial sites or even old gas stations. Testing isn’t just about peace of mind; it’s about catching these risks before they become a health crisis. A good habit is to keep a log of your test results over the years—it helps you spot patterns or sudden changes that might point to a bigger issue, like a failing septic system nearby.
Licensed Labs Provide Accurate Results
There are many different compounds that can contaminate a private well, so state and local health or environmental departments will typically test a broad spectrum of possible contaminants including nitrates, total coliforms, fecal coliform, VOCs, and the pH level. However, to ensure that the results are accurate, it’s important to only send well water test samples to a licensed or state-certified laboratory. You can find a licensed lab by contacting your local health department, checking with the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at (800)426-4791, or visiting the EPA’s website where a list of local laboratories can be found.
Accuracy is everything when it comes to well testing, and licensed labs are your best bet for results you can trust. I once made the mistake of going with a cheap, non-certified lab to save a few bucks, and the results were so vague they were practically useless. Certified labs use standardized methods to test for a wide range of contaminants, and they’re required to follow strict protocols. For example, they’ll check pH levels, which can affect how corrosive your water is to your plumbing—low pH can leach metals like lead into your water. The cost of testing through a certified lab usually ranges from $100 to $300, depending on how comprehensive the test is, but it’s worth every penny for the clarity it provides. If you’re in a pinch, some local health departments even offer free or discounted testing kits, especially in areas prone to contamination.
Collect Samples from the Main Drinking Water Faucet
When you make the decision to do well testing, you can contact a state-certified laboratory to get a sample kit. The lab will typically include directions for how to take a proper sample, how to seal the sample, and how to send it safely to the lab so that the water can be analyzed. You will get the most accurate results about your drinking water if you collect the sample from the main drinking water faucet. This is usually the faucet in the kitchen sink, but some families may prefer to get their drinking water and ice from a built-in waterline in the refrigerator. Consider which situation is most true for your home and collect the sample from the primary drinking water faucet.
Collecting a sample sounds simple, but there’s a knack to it. The kitchen faucet is usually the go-to because it’s where most people get their drinking water, but if your family relies on the fridge’s water dispenser, that’s the spot to sample. I’ve found that taking the sample first thing in the morning, before anyone uses the water, gives the most consistent results. The lab’s kit will come with sterile containers and clear instructions—follow them exactly. One time, I accidentally used a regular bottle, and the lab flagged the sample as compromised. Also, make sure to ship the sample quickly, usually within 24 hours, to keep it fresh. If you’re worried about costs, some labs bundle multiple tests into one kit, which can save you from having to order separate kits for bacteria, metals, or pesticides.
Well Water Should Be Tested at Least Once per Year
Testing the water in a private well doesn’t clean contaminants from the water or even prevent the water from becoming contaminated in the future. Testing is merely a way to identify any problems with the drinking water—at a particular moment in time—so that the owner of the well can take action. This means that the only way to know for certain that the drinking water is safe is to have it regularly tested. It’s recommended to test a private well about once per year, however, if there is any flooding in the area that could cause the well to fill with contaminated surface water, then you need to test and take action immediately. Additionally, if you replace or repair any parts of the well system or if you notice any changes in taste, color, or odor, then it’s a good idea to have the well water tested just to make sure that there isn’t anything harmful in the water.
Annual testing is a solid baseline, but don’t treat it like a one-and-done deal. I’ve seen wells that were fine for years suddenly show issues after a big storm or nearby construction. Flooding is a huge red flag—surface water can carry all sorts of nasties into your well, like bacteria or pesticides. The CDC reports that about 20% of wells tested after flooding events show some level of contamination. If your water starts tasting metallic or looks cloudy, don’t wait for the yearly test; get it checked right away. A practical tip: mark your calendar for your annual test, maybe around spring when the weather starts shifting. Also, if you’ve got kids or elderly folks at home, consider testing twice a year for extra peace of mind, especially if your well is shallow or near potential contamination sources like farms or landfills.
Consult the Lab to Accurately Decipher the Results
Lab results of private well water tests can be difficult to interpret if you don’t know what you are looking at or if the report is unclear. While you can spend a significant amount of time researching the individual readings, the levels, and what they mean to your home water source, the best course of action is to contact the lab and have someone explain the results to you. Many labs will include this service in the price of the test, but if your lab doesn’t offer this service, then you can also contact your local health or environmental department for help understanding the test. These are knowledgeable sources that can be relied on for accurate information so that you don’t risk potentially interpreting the results incorrectly.
Those lab reports can look like a science experiment gone wild—numbers, abbreviations, and terms you’ve never heard of. I remember my first time getting results; I spent hours Googling what “ppb” meant (parts per billion, by the way). Save yourself the headache and just call the lab. Most of them are happy to walk you through it, and they’ll point out what’s normal and what’s not. For example, nitrate levels above 10 mg/L are a problem, especially for pregnant women or infants. If your lab doesn’t offer this service, your local health department is a great backup—they often have experts who can break it down in plain English. One thing I’ve learned: don’t just skim the report and assume everything’s fine. Even low levels of certain contaminants, like lead, can build up in your system over time, so ask questions if anything looks off.
Contaminated Wells Need to Be Treated
If the results of the well testing indicate that the water has been contaminated, then the very first thing to do is to stop drinking and using the water. Immediately contact your public health department. They will typically ask for a second test in order to confirm the presence of a contaminant, and then they will be able to provide you with information about how to treat the well. Some contaminants can be handled relatively easily by disinfecting the well water, but other contaminants may require larger-scale on-site treatments by water treatment professionals. In severe cases of contamination, you may need to find a new source of water for the home or have a new well drilled.
Finding out your well is contaminated is a gut punch, but don’t panic—most issues can be fixed. For minor bacterial problems, shock chlorination (basically, disinfecting the well with a chlorine solution) can do the trick, and it’s something you might be able to handle yourself for $50-$100 in supplies. More serious stuff, like heavy metals or VOCs, often needs a professional water treatment system, which can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the setup. I had a neighbor who dealt with high arsenic levels and ended up installing a reverse osmosis system under their sink for drinking water—it wasn’t cheap, but it worked. In rare cases, like if the contamination is from a permanent source (say, an underground fuel leak), you might need to drill a new well, which can run $10,000 or more. Always get a second test to confirm the issue, and lean on your health department for guidance—they’ve seen it all and can point you to reliable treatment options.