Is well water safe to drink?

Well water is safe when it tests safe, and nobody tests it but you: private wells are the owner's responsibility, not the EPA's. Test at least yearly for coliform bacteria and nitrates, and after floods, well work, or any change in taste, smell, or clarity. Millions of households drink excellent well water; the ones that get in trouble are the ones that never test.

The starter panel is cheap: total coliform and E. coli, nitrate, and pH, from a certified lab or your county health department. Add iron, manganese, and hardness if you have staining or taste complaints, and check your state's guidance for local concerns like arsenic.

A failed bacteria test is usually fixable in a weekend: find the entry point, treat the well, retest. A well that keeps failing needs a contractor's eyes on the casing and cap.

Want the dose sized to your exact well?

Answer a few questions and we will size your treatment dosage for you. The kit is from $329.