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Well water testing cost: $20–$112 for bacteria and nitrate

Testing a private well for coliform bacteria and nitrate costs $20–$112 at the eleven state, county and university labs in our table, from $20 at Indiana's state lab to $112 in Westchester County, New York. Those are the two tests CDC and EPA say to run every year. Broader homeowner panels run $60–$583.

1,2,3,4

Key figures

ItemFigure
Coliform bacteria test (Public and university labs) $10–$401,5,6
Nitrate test $10–$801,2
Homeowner or standard panel $60–$5835,2
Mortgage or real estate package $80–$1467,8

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Bacteria and nitrate prices by lab

Each row is one lab's published fee for the two annual tests. Prices are what the lab charges you, not a state average.

Coliform and nitrate test fees, public and university labs
LabColiformNitrateBoth
Indiana Department of Health$10$10$20
UGA Extension, Harris County (GA)$36$16$52
Central District Health, Boise (ID)$20$21$41
Montana DPHHS$25$28$53
Penn State AASL (PA)$40$15$55
UW-Stevens Point (WI)$30$29$59
Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene$35$35$70
Oklahoma DEQ$33$38$71
Texas DSHS$18.39$30.00$48.39
El Paso County Public Health (CO)$23$30$53
Westchester County Labs (NY)$32.10$80.25$112.35

Sources1,9,10,11,5,12,8,13,14,7,2

Panels and packages

Most labs sell bundles. They cost more than the two basic tests and are the better buy for a new well or a first test on a house you just bought.

Well water test packages, published prices
PackagePriceLab
Standard package (WD01)$60Penn State AASL
Private Well Annual panel$75Oklahoma DEQ
Homeowner package$78UW-Stevens Point
Well evaluation kit$127Maine CDC HETL, via Town of Blue Hill
Well panel #1$238City of Fort Worth
Full Well Screen$340Montana DPHHS
Homeowner package, 5 bottles$450Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene
Well Water Package A$583.10Westchester County Labs

Sources5,13,12,15,16,11,8,2

Tests for a home sale or loan

Some lenders require a water test before closing. Labs price a package for it: $80 at El Paso County Public Health, $85 for UGA Extension's home loan kit, $104 for Oklahoma DEQ's real estate panel, $107 for Fort Worth's VA package and $146 for the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene's HUD/FHA-VA package.

Sources7,9,13,16,8

Sample collection costs extra

Most of these fees assume you collect the sample and drop it off. A health department visit adds to it: Central District Health in Boise charges $145 to collect, and Grand Traverse County in Michigan charges $160 for a collection that includes coliform and nitrate. Shipping can matter too. New Mexico's state lab adds $29.47 for shipping and handling on top of its $39.29 coliform test.

Sources10,17,18

Common questions

How often should I test my well?

At least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, per CDC and EPA. Test again after any repair to the well.

Is a hardware store test kit good enough?

For a screen, maybe. For a home sale, a loan or a health decision, use a certified lab. Arizona's health department points owners to state-certified private labs, since no government agency tests private wells there.

Is testing required when I buy a house with a well?

Usually not by state law. Wisconsin DNR, for one, says no inspection or test is required for a property transfer, though many buyers test and some lenders require it.

Related pages

For the cost of a finished well in your state, see cost to drill a well.

Sources

  1. Well Water Testing , Indiana Department of Health Laboratories. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. $10.00 for bacteria; $10.00 for nitrate.
  2. Environmental Services Fee Schedule (approved 2025-09-19) , Westchester County Department of Laboratories & Research (NY). Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform and E. coli P/A $32.10; nitrate as N $80.25; Well Water Package A (Private Well Testing Law) $583.10.
  3. Guidelines for Testing Well Water , CDC. Accessed November 9, 2026. July 1, 2024
  4. Protect Your Home's Water (Private Wells) , U.S. EPA. Accessed November 9, 2026. Last updated February 26, 2026
  5. Drinking Water Testing , Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated (2026 site). Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli) $40; nitrate-nitrogen $15; WD01 standard package $60; WD04 standard plus nitrate $70.
  6. Well Water Testing , Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated (2026 site). Bacteriological (E. coli and coliforms) $40 for private testing through BPHL; $17 when submitted through a county health department.
  7. Water Testing , El Paso County Public Health Laboratory (CO). Accessed November 8, 2026. 2026. Total coliform/E. coli P/A $23.00; nitrate-N $30.00; real estate package $80.00.
  8. Public Environmental and Water Testing Prices, effective 2026-07-01 , Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene. Accessed November 8, 2026. Bacteria (total coliform/E. coli) P/A $35.00; Nitrate $35.00; Nitrite $38; HUD/FHA-VA loan package $146.00; Homeowner package (5 bottle) $450.00.
  9. Testing Services (UGA AESL water tests via county office) , University of Georgia Extension, Harris County. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. W35 total coliform/E. coli $36; W6 nitrate-N $16; W1 basic water test $24; W2 expanded $64; W33B home loan closing kit $85.
  10. Drinking Water Quality Fees (July 2026) , Central District Health (Boise, ID). Accessed November 8, 2026. Coliform test $20; nitrate test $21; sample collection by CDH $145.
  11. Environmental Laboratory Testing Fee Schedule, effective 2024-01-01 , Montana DPHHS Laboratory Services Bureau. Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform P/A $25.00; nitrate+nitrite as N $28.00; Basic Screen package $55.00; Full Well Screen $340.00.
  12. 2026 Analysis Price List (Water and Environmental Analysis Lab) , University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Center for Watershed Science and Education. Accessed November 8, 2026. Prices effective through 2026-12-31. Coliform P/A $30; nitrate+nitrite $29; homeowner package $78; new well / well drillers NR812 compliance package $61.
  13. Lab Services Fee Schedule FY27 (SELSD-SD-008-R4), effective 2026-07-01 , Oklahoma DEQ State Environmental Laboratory Services Division. Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform and E. coli P/A $33; nitrate $38; nitrate/nitrite $38; Private Well Annual panel (coliform, nitrate/nitrite, pH, conductivity) $75; Real Estate panel $104; Private Well Diagnostics $175.
  14. DSHS Austin Laboratory Fee Schedule, effective 2026-09-01 , Texas Department of State Health Services. Accessed November 8, 2026. Potable Water (coliform) MZZ0441A $18.39; Nitrate-N EZZ0048A $30.00; Routine Water Mineral Group $155; All Metals $165; VOCs $150.
  15. Well Water Test Kit Information , Town of Blue Hill, Maine (Maine CDC HETL kit pricing). Accessed November 8, 2026. 2023-11-21. HETL well evaluation kit (coliform, nitrate/nitrite, fluoride, chloride, pH, arsenic, uranium, etc.) $127.00.
  16. Well Water Testing , City of Fort Worth Water Laboratory. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Well panel #1 $238; panel #2 $248; VA loan package $107; VOCs $130.
  17. Environmental Health 2026 Fee Schedule , Grand Traverse County Health Department (MI). Accessed November 8, 2026. Private or Type III well permit $240; water sample collection fee including coliform and nitrate $160.
  18. Biological Sciences Bureau Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027 , New Mexico Department of Health, Scientific Laboratory Division. Accessed November 8, 2026. Total coliform MMO-MUG $39.29; shipping and handling $29.47. Nitrate (Chemistry Bureau) not on this schedule.
  19. Protect Your Health: a guide for private well owners in Arizona , Arizona Department of Health Services. Accessed November 8, 2026. Undated. Private well water is not tested by any government organization; owners use ADHS-certified private labs. No fee figure.
  20. Property transfer well inspection (WI DNR) , Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Accessed November 9, 2026. undated (references rules effective 2014-10-01)

How these figures are built: methodology. Updated November 2026.