A lab report can be a wall of abbreviations and units. Our guide walks through it line by line: what the units mean, how to compare each result with the EPA limit, which results are health concerns and which are nuisances, and when to retest.
Start here: How to Read Your Well Water Test Results (MCLs, ppm and ppb Explained)
Found something high? Go to the guide for that contaminant: – Coliform and E. coli · Nitrates · Arsenic · Lead – PFAS · Radon · Hard water, iron and manganese
Then compare treatment options that match your results.
Your lab and health department come first. If a result is over a health limit, or you aren’t sure what it means, call the lab that ran the test and your state or local health department. They can explain your report and tell you whether to stop drinking the water.
General information, not medical advice. Limits are from the EPA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations and secondary standards.
