Testing Basics

Buying a home with a private well? Which records to request, what a well inspection should check, which water tests to order, and what state home-sale rules may require.

Where to get help with a private well: find a state-certified lab, your state’s private well program, home-sale testing rules (NJ, OR, MN) and repair grants.

Build a well water test panel that fits your property: the CDC/EPA annual baseline, add-ons based on geology and nearby land use, and tests you can usually skip.

Test your well at least once a year, plus after floods, repairs, a pregnancy or a change in your water. Here’s the official schedule and when to test before buying a home.

A plain-English guide to private well water testing: what to test for, how often, certified labs vs DIY kits, reading results, and what to do if something is high.