Know what’s in your well water, and what to do about it
If your home runs on a private well, nobody tests that water for you. Public water systems are regulated, but under the EPA, private well owners are responsible for the safety of their own water. Private Well Guide is a plain-English, independent guide for rural homeowners: what to test for, how often, where to get a reliable test, how to read the results, and what your treatment options are.
Start with the complete well testing guide → Read your test results →
Start where you are
🧪 Never tested, or not sure what to test for?
- Private Well Water Testing: The Complete Guide
- What to test your well water for
- How often to test well water
- Testing Basics →
⚠️ Worried about a specific contaminant?
- Coliform and E. coli · Nitrates · Arsenic · Lead
- PFAS · Radon · Hard water, iron and manganese
- All contaminants →
📦 Choosing a test?
- Best well water test kits: DIY kits vs mail-in labs
- Tap Score vs your state-certified lab vs DIY strips
- Test Kits & Labs →
📄 Got results back?
🔧 Need to fix something?
- How to shock chlorinate a well
- Treatment options: UV vs RO vs softener vs whole-house filter
- Treatment →
The short version
- Test with a certified lab for anything health-related. DIY strips and kits are useful for screening, but decisions about drinking water (bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead, PFAS) should rest on results from a state-certified laboratory. Find a state-certified lab (EPA directory) →
- Test on a schedule and after changes. The CDC’s well testing guidelines cover routine testing and the events (flooding, repairs, changes in taste, smell or color) that call for a new test.
- Treat what the test finds. Choose treatment to match your results, and check that a system is certified for the specific contaminant at NSF before you buy.
If a test shows E. coli or another urgent problem, stop drinking the water, use bottled water, and contact your state or local health department.
How we work
- Sourced, not guessed. Health limits and testing advice come from EPA, CDC, state health departments and university extension services, and every page links its sources.
- Research, not lab work. We are not a laboratory and we don’t run water tests. We summarize official guidance and manufacturer information, and we say which is which.
- Independent and reader-supported. Where we may earn a commission, we say so (see our affiliate disclosure). Commissions never decide a recommendation.
Private Well Guide provides general information, not medical or professional advice. For health decisions, use a state-certified lab and talk to your state or local health department.