Affiliate disclosure: Private Well Guide (privatewellguide.com) earns a commission from some links on this page, including Tap Score, at no extra cost to you. We have not used or tested any of these services ourselves. This comparison is based on the seller’s published information (checked October 11, 2026) and on CDC, EPA and university guidance.
Health note: CDC and EPA recommend a state-certified laboratory for well water testing. Your local health department can help you understand results. This article is not medical advice.
The three options at a glance
| Tap Score (mail-in lab) | Local state-certified lab / health department | DIY strips and kits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who runs the test | A lab Tap Score describes as independent and accredited | A lab certified by your state for drinking water | You |
| Cost | Essential Well $209, Advanced Well $399 (listed Oct 11, 2026) | Varies by county and lab; some health departments test for free (EPA) | Lowest; check current price |
| Lab turnaround | 5 business days, per Tap Score | Varies; ask the lab | Minutes to 48 hours |
| Bacteria handling | Advanced kit ships overnight to the lab in a cooler, per Tap Score | Usually the shortest trip to the lab | Presence/absence screening only |
| Help with results | Online report with treatment suggestions, per Tap Score | Health department staff can help interpret (CDC) | Instructions on the package |
| Best for | Broad panels without a local lab; convenience | Annual baseline; required or official testing | Monitoring between lab tests |
Sources: Tap Score Essential, Tap Score Advanced.
Option 1: Tap Score
Tap Score is a mail-in service from SimpleLab. You order a kit, collect your sample at home, ship it with the included prepaid label, and get results online. According to the company:
- Essential Well Water Test ($209): heavy metals (25), minerals (4), hardness, turbidity, silica, nitrate, nitrite, and coliform bacteria including E. coli. Lab turnaround is 5 business days. Tap Score: Essential well water test →
- Advanced Well Water Test ($399): a broader panel, plus overnight shipping to the lab with an insulated cooler. Tap Score positions it for wells where bacterial contamination is suspected. Tap Score: Advanced well water test →
- Reports include health and plumbing notes and treatment recommendations.
Pros: convenient; wide panels; no need to find a local lab.
Watch for: price compared with your county’s fees, and shipping time for bacteria samples (especially with the Essential kit). If your test is for an official purpose, such as a state home-sale requirement, confirm the lab holds certification in your state.
Option 2: Your local certified lab or health department
CDC says to use a state-certified laboratory and notes that local or state health and environmental departments often test for nitrates, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, VOCs and pH. Find one through:
- Your county health department
- EPA’s list of state lab certification programs Find a state-certified lab (EPA directory) →
- EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (800) 426-4791, listed by CDC
Pros: often the cheapest route for the annual baseline; short transit for bacteria samples; staff who know local contaminants.
Watch for: panels and fees vary a lot by county. Some states require testing at a state-certified lab; New Jersey’s home-sale testing rule is one example.
Option 3: DIY strips and kits
A UMass Amherst study found home test kit quality “can vary widely,” with high variability among the eight kits it examined. DIY kits are useful for:
- Checking hardness after a softener WaterTestingKits.com: hardness test strips →
- Spotting changes in iron or pH between lab tests
- Quick bacteria screening, such as WaterTestingKits’ 48-hour coliform/E. coli test WaterTestingKits.com: bacteria water test →
If a DIY result raises a concern, confirm it with a certified lab.
Our take
- Annual baseline (coliform, nitrate, pH, TDS): check your health department or a local certified lab first.
- First comprehensive test, or no convenient local lab: a mail-in lab panel like Tap Score’s is a reasonable choice. Pick the Advanced kit if bacteria is the main worry.
- Between tests: DIY strips for the parameters your treatment system targets.
See all kit options: Best Well Water Test Kits 2026: DIY Kits vs Mail-In Labs · Reading your report: How to Read Your Well Water Test Results (MCLs, ppm and ppb Explained)
Sources
- CDC, Guidelines for Testing Well Water: https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/safety/guidelines-for-testing-well-water.html
- CDC, How to Disinfect Wells After an Emergency (hotline): https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-disinfect-wells-after-an-emergency.html
- EPA, Protect Your Home’s Water: https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/protect-your-homes-water
- EPA, Certified lab contacts: https://www.epa.gov/dwlabcert/contact-information-certification-programs-and-certified-laboratories-drinking-water
- Tap Score product pages (checked Oct 11, 2026): https://mytapscore.com/products/essential-well-water-test · https://mytapscore.com/products/advanced-well-water-test
- UMass Amherst, home test kit study: https://www.umass.edu/engineering/news/kumpel-home-water-tests
- NJDEP, Private Well Testing Act: https://dep.nj.gov/privatewells/pwta/