Use a state-certified lab
CDC and EPA both say to test at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH — at a laboratory your state certifies. Annual panel, with citations.
Find a state-certified lab that will actually test your private well — then the treatment that matches the report.
Private well water is your job to test. Public-system rules do not apply. Start with a laboratory your state has accredited — not a kit sold with a filter.
Minnesota — 24 labs
MDH’s July 2026 list of accredited laboratories that accept drinking-water samples from private well users. Name, city, phone, and which of five common tests they run.
Open Minnesota labsPennsylvania — 44 labs listed, 1 verified for private wells
Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory is confirmed for homeowner kits. Other rows are commercial labs from DEP’s 13 June 2024 bacteriology accreditation report. Call before you ship. Municipal plant labs were omitted.
Open Pennsylvania labsOhio — 29 labs listed, 1 verified for private wells
Mahoning County Board of Health is confirmed for private-well testing. Other rows are Ohio commercial and health-department labs from Ohio EPA’s August 2026 Combined Lab List. Call before you ship. Municipal plant labs were omitted.
Open Ohio labsWisconsin — 74 labs listed, 2 verified for private wells
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and UW–Stevens Point WEAL are confirmed for homeowner / private-well testing. Other rows are from WI DNR’s January 2026 chemistry list and DATCP BactiLab. Call before you ship. Municipal plant labs were omitted.
Open Wisconsin labsTexas — 49 labs listed, 1 verified for private wells
LCRA Environmental Laboratory Services is confirmed for residential / private water-supply testing. Other rows are commercial and health-department labs from TCEQ’s PWS Lab Map Table (updated 03/26/2026). Call before you ship. Municipal utility labs were omitted.
Open Texas labsMichigan — 47 labs listed, 1 verified for private wells
EGLE Laboratory Services is confirmed for homeowner kits (ship or pickup). Other rows are commercial and health-department labs from EGLE’s SOM certified list dated 3/11/2026. Call before you ship. Municipal plant labs were omitted.
Open Michigan labsMaine — 12 labs listed, 1 verified for private wells
Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory (HETL) is confirmed for private-well drinking-water testing. Other rows are in-state commercial labs from Maine CDC’s commercial list dated 5/16/2026. Call before you ship. Specialty PFAS/bacteria notes transcribed as printed.
Open Maine labsIndiana — 49 labs listed, 1 verified for private wells
Indiana Dept. of Health Laboratories is confirmed for private-citizen well testing. Other rows are from IDEM’s in-state certified drinking-water list revised 11/7/2025 (public-accepting section). Call before you ship.
Open Indiana labsNorth Carolina — 47 labs listed, 1 verified private-well path
NCSLPH private-well chemical testing is confirmed via local health departments. Other rows are in-state labs from NCSLPH’s certified drinking-water commercial list (retrieved 6 September 2026). Call before you ship — commercial private-well acceptance is unknown.
Open North Carolina labsIowa — 11 commercial labs, 3 SHL locations verified, 3 county health
State Hygienic Laboratory (Coralville, Lakeside, Ankeny) is confirmed for private-well kits. Other rows are in-state Commercial Drinking Water labs from Iowa DNR LabCert (generated 9/7/2026), plus county health labs. Call before you ship — commercial private-well acceptance is unknown.
Open Iowa labsMissouri — 5 commercial chemical labs, 41 commercial micro labs, 1 SPHL path verified
Missouri State Public Health Laboratory is confirmed for private-well testing via local public health agency kits (bacteria and chemical). Other rows are in-state Commercial=Yes labs from Missouri DNR chemical and microbiological Excel lists (retrieved 8 September 2026). Call before you ship — commercial private-well acceptance is unknown. DHSS does not offer real-estate testing.
Open Missouri labsIllinois — LHD path verified; 15 primary chemical, 15 commercial micro, 4 health-dept micro
Most local health departments can test private wells for coliform/nitrate yearly (IEPA). Tables list IEPA primary chemical analytical labs (12/09/2025) and IDPH Commercial/Health Department micro labs (12/4/2025). Call first. ISWS HEAL no longer tests households.
Open Illinois labsVirginia — VAHWQP clinics verified; 21 Ch46 commercial ∩ DW Excel labs
Virginia Household Water Quality Program Extension clinics are the verified private-well path. VDH and DCLS do not test private wells for homeowners. Table lists in-state DCLS Chapter 46 commercial labs that also appear on the DW Certified Labs Excel (current as of 8/1/2026). Call first.
Open Virginia labsGeorgia — UGA AESL W33C verified; 14 in-state EPD commercial labs
UGA AESL Private Well Chemical Test (W33C) via county Extension is confirmed. County Environmental Health may offer annual bacteria testing. Table lists 14 in-state labs from EPD chemical and microbiology PDFs revised January 9, 2025. Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown except UGA AESL.
Open Georgia labsKentucky — HydroAnalytical + Marshall County verified; 16 in-state commercial/regional labs
HydroAnalytical well water package and Western KY Regional Lab / Marshall County Health Department bacterial testing are confirmed. Ask your local health department about private-well sampling. Table lists 16 in-state commercial/regional labs from DOW’s certified DW list revised April 28, 2025 (Greenup mirror). Call first.
Open Kentucky labsAlabama — ADPH/BCL bacterial path verified; 10 in-state commercial labs
ADPH county health departments and Bureau of Clinical Laboratories are confirmed for private-well bacterial testing (total coliform / E. coli). BCL does not do chemical analysis of private wells. Table lists 10 in-state commercial labs from ADEM bacteriological (Revised Oct 30, 2023) and in-state chemical (Revised Nov 6, 2023) PDFs. Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown.
Open Alabama labsSouth Dakota — DOH Public Health Lab kits verified; 2 in-state commercial labs
SD DOH Environmental Health Laboratory is confirmed for private-person testing kits (DOH or County Extension). Table lists 2 in-state commercial labs from DANR Laboratory Certification (Mid Continent; American Engineering Testing). Sioux Falls Public Health Laboratory noted separately. Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown.
Open South Dakota labsTennessee — TDH Lab Services verified; 10 in-state commercial labs
TDH Division of Laboratory Services Environmental Microbiology is confirmed for private-well Total Coliform / E. coli (sterile bottles). Chemistry Laboratory lists private wells among typical sample sources. Table lists 10 in-state commercial labs from TDEC certified commercial list dated 03/17/2026. Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown.
Open Tennessee labsWest Virginia — OLS Lab Services verified; 6 in-state commercial labs
DHHR OLS Environmental Microbiology is confirmed for private / individual household testing (prefer county health department collection; OLS sterile bottles). Environmental Chemistry supports private well owners (total coliform, regulated metals, nitrate + nitrite). Table lists 6 in-state commercial labs from OLS certified parameter list PDF updated 8/20/2026. Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown.
Open West Virginia labsOklahoma — DEQ SELS verified; 17 in-state commercial labs
DEQ State Environmental Laboratory Services is confirmed for private-well Total Coliform / E. coli kits and private chemistry including nitrate/nitrite and the Water Wellness panel. Table lists 17 in-state commercial labs from DEQ Accredited_Labs_2026 GIS (BusinessCa=Commercial). Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown.
Open Oklahoma labsNebraska — NPHEL verified; 3 in-state commercial labs
DHHS Public Health Environmental Laboratory is confirmed for private-citizen bacteria/coliform and nitrate kits (online form or 402-471-3935; 30-hour coliform hold). Table lists 3 in-state commercial/reciprocity labs from DHHS certified labs.pdf (retrieved 19 Sep 2026; PDF ModDate 22 May 2024). Call first — commercial private-well acceptance unknown.
Open Nebraska labsNew Hampshire — NHDHHS WAL verified; 9 labs on private-well guidance PDF
NHDHHS Public Health Laboratories Water Analysis Laboratory is confirmed for homeowner private-well testing (603-271-3445; Home Owner Container Request). Table lists 9 laboratories from NHDES labs-private-wells.pdf (April 2026; lab list updated 9/20/2024; retrieved 20 Sep 2026) that NHDES states serve private well users. Call to confirm packages.
Open New Hampshire labsVermont — VDH Laboratory kits verified; 17 labs on DEC landowner table
Vermont Department of Health Laboratory is confirmed for private drinking-water kits / Homeowner Testing Package (800-660-9997 / 802-338-4724; webstore + order form + sample drop-off). Table lists 17 laboratories from DEC Certified Laboratories for Landowner Water Quality Testing (retrieved 24 Sep 2026), with addresses from the VDH certified PDF (June 11, 2026; green = accept private samples). Call to confirm packages.
Open Vermont labsArkansas — ADH Glen F. Baker kits verified; 3 labs on Water Microbiology resource list
Arkansas Department of Health Glen F. Baker Public Health Laboratory is confirmed for private drinking-water kits (total coliform and E. coli via local health unit; 30-hour hold). Table lists 3 environmental lab names from the ADH Water Microbiology resource list (retrieved 25 Sep 2026); phones and addresses are not printed there. Call to confirm packages.
Open Arkansas labsMississippi — MSDH bacteriological path verified; 6 in-state participating labs
Mississippi State Department of Health is confirmed for private-well bacteriological sampling only (apply online; Division of On-site Wastewater). Table lists 6 laboratories from MSDH Water Supply Certification: In-State Participating Labs (last reviewed Feb 14, 2025; retrieved 26 Sep 2026). Call to confirm packages.
Open Mississippi labsMontana — DPHHS Environmental Lab private-well path verified; 15 in-state certified labs
DPHHS State Environmental Laboratory is confirmed for private-well chemistry and microbiology forms. Table lists 15 unique Montana locations from the DPHHS Water Laboratory Certification Program page (retrieved 1 October 2026). Call to confirm packages. Out-of-state certified labs linked via official page only.
Open Montana labsLouisiana — LDH Private Well Owner Network path verified; 9 in-state labs
LDH Private Well Owner Network / egov Order Private Water Well Testing and OPH sample drop-off are confirmed for private wells. Water Test, Inc. is marked PRIVATE WELLS ONLY on the microbiology certified list (March 2026). Table lists 9 in-state labs (5 LDH OPH drop-off sites, Water Test, Inc., and 3 commercial chemistry labs). Municipal PWS plant labs omitted. Call to confirm packages.
Open Louisiana labsIdaho — DHW Free Private Well Water Testing + IBL path verified; 8 certified labs
DHW Free Idaho Private Well Water Testing (Available Fall 2026) via Idaho Health Tools and Idaho Bureau of Labs are confirmed private-well paths. Table lists 8 laboratories from the DHW Idaho Certified Laboratories roster on the private-wells hub (retrieved 3 October 2026). Commercial private-well acceptance: call first. Confirm free-kit availability on Health Tools.
Open Idaho labsMatch the number, not the ad
Stains, odors, and “nuisance” minerals are not the same problem. Buy treatment only after you know iron vs. manganese vs. copper, or whether the rotten-egg smell is the water heater anode.
Hire licensed help if you need it
If a result exceeds a health benchmark, EPA says to contact the public health department and re-test. This site does not rank filters.
Before you buy a filter
- compare home water filter methods (pitcher, under-sink, RO) — method comparison on DIY Kit Index after you have lab numbers; not a best-of ranking.
- Iron stains — what to test (iron, manganese, copper, hardness, pH, iron bacteria) before you buy treatment.
- Rotten-egg odor — water-heater anode vs. well vs. aquifer, from Minnesota Department of Health.
How to use this directory: what to check before you test
Know what a yearly test covers. EPA says to test a private well every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH, and to test for anything else you suspect. Your local health department can tell you what to test for in your area (EPA, Protect Your Home's Water).
Use a certified lab, and ask the health department first. EPA says to use only laboratories certified for drinking water testing. It points you to your state's certified laboratory program and to your local health department, which may test private wells for free. EPA gives states primary responsibility for certifying drinking water labs, and EPA itself does not test home water on request (EPA, Certification Programs and Certified Laboratories for Drinking Water).
Check the lab takes your sample. A state certification list does not always say whether a lab accepts private-well samples. Each state page below notes what the official list says. Where it is silent, call the lab before you collect a sample, and ask which bottles and holding times it needs.
Compare results to the limits on the report. EPA says results should show each substance's concentration, and you can compare them with EPA drinking water standards before choosing any treatment.
Popular state pages
What this site will not do
We do not invent laboratories, phone numbers, prices, or certifications. If a field is not on the official list, it is marked unknown or omitted. We do not publish “best water filter” roundups. Official sources are linked on every page.