©Adobe Stock
When it comes to sampling well water, there are several important factors to consider including which tap you should collect from, what you should test for, how often to test, where to get it tested, and how to read the results.
It is important to remember that private wells are not regulated. It’s up to the owner and user to be sure the water is safe to drink, and the system is maintained. Well water can be the best tasting and safest water in the world, but contaminants can also be colorless, odorless, and have no taste.
On average, a family of four pays $50-100 a month for the community water supply. That’s the cost spread out over all the residents in a community for sampling, maintenance, and infrastructure to ensure safe water. This responsibility falls on a homeowner if the property has a private well.
What information should I find out before I get my water tested?
It is best to inform yourself about your well as much as possible before you get it tested. This will help you determine what you should test for and at what frequency.
To be prepared, check out the article: "What information should I know before I test my well water?"
What should I test for and how often?*
*Get advice from your local or state health department on local constituents of concern.
You should ask your local or state health department what they recommend, first and foremost. We have found it’s almost universally recommended that a private well be tested annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria.
Why do I need to test for coliform bacteria and nitrate every year?
Coliform bacteria aren’t generally found in groundwater, so if you have them in your well, it’s likely they got in from a crack, poor seal, or because the well was opened. If the bacteria got into your well, that could mean there are other things getting in as well.
Nitrate can cause blue baby syndrome in infants, so expectant mothers and babies need to be sure their water is low in nitrate. Both of these things are easy to test for and both are indicators of a possible pathway for contaminants in your well.
Should I have my water tested if there is a change in my well or my water?
In addition to routine annual sampling, you should sample your well when one of the following occur:
Any time the well is repaired or serviced.
If you notice any change in taste, color, odor.
After chlorination – chlorine kills bacteria, but is also an oxidant and can release metals into your well water.
If recurring illness is occurring.
If a new infant is brought into the home or someone is pregnant.
If a neighbor has a water quality issue with their well
Outside tap/©Adobe Stock
Where do I collect the sample?
The water coming out of your kitchen sink could be chemically different from the water at an outside tap. A lab should provide detailed sampling instructions on sampling and might ask the well owners to collect at least two sets of samples, and possibly more depending on:
If you have lead pipes.
If your house piping is from before 1986.
If you have any installed treatment devices.
Where can I get my well water tested?
State Water Surveys or local well sampling program.
They may provide a general mineral analysis and/or other trace metals/cations.
State Department of Public Health & County Health Departments.
Many county health departments can do bacteria testing. Citizens should contact their local health department for more details. In communities where there may not be a local health department, citizens can contact the nearest department of local health.
Private Laboratories.
Citizens may also turn to private laboratories for their testing needs, especially for services or analytes unavailable through other resources. While a non-accredited laboratory may follow EPA protocols and produce similar results, we recommend that you choose a state-accredited laboratory to do your testing.
Contact us.
If you still have questions about wells and well water issues, contact us through the chat or call 1-866-945-0699.
How can I get my results interpreted?
You can use websites and documents online to get a sense of your results but take them to your health department to get a qualified answer. They can offer advice on what steps to take next, what treatments you may need, and how often to retest. Check out the Be Well Informed Tool. You can enter your results in the tool and it will interpret your results. It also provides local resources for a select number of states.
Health professionals want to help you ensure that your water is safe to drink. In most cases, they cannot tell you to stop drinking your water or condemn your well. They can only make recommendations. (Note: There are a few places that have changed the regulations and now have the authority to condemn a well. Check into your local rules to know for sure.)
Want to learn more about your private well and how to care for it?
Sign up for the free 10-week email course from PrivateWellClass.org. The class is a project of RCAP and the University of Illinois, with funding from USEPA.
Not finding the answer you need?
Send us a message in the chat or call us at 1-866-945-0699.