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Private Residential Water Well Testing

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Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Private Residential Water Well Testing

Your well was required to be tested when it was first installed, but what about after that? You are the owner of your water system, and it is your responsibility to protect your drinking water quality and the groundwater source.

Standard water quality concerns for private wells include coliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, chloride, sulfate, sodium, hardness, and metals like aluminum, antimony, arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, mercury, selenium, uranium, and zinc.

Step 1: Request a test kit!

Testing options:

These health departments have onsite testing capabilities. If you do not live in or near one of these counties, you can request a test through the EGLE Laboratory.

  • Washtenaw County Health Department (Email or call 734-222-3800)
  • Oakland County Health Department (Email or call 248-858-1280)
  • Kalamazoo County Health Department (Call 269-373-5200)
  • Saginaw County Health Department (Call 989-758-3825)
  • Luce County (Call 906-293-5107 ext 303)
  • Mackinac County (Call 906-643-1100 ext 233)
  • Alger County (Call 906-387-2297 ext 401)
  • Schoolcraft County (Call 906-341-6951 ext 110)
  • White Water Associates Laboratory for the Western Upper Peninsula (Call 906-822-7889)

How can I tell if my water supply is a private well?

A general rule to follow is if you get a bill for your water, you are likely on a community water supply. EGLE provides more information about common water supplies on our website. If you determine that your water is supplied by a public water supply, we recommend that you contact your local water supplier. They are required to analyze the water and maintain a standard of quality that is available to all users.

Step 2: View videos on how to collect a sample and fill out the sample form.

Step 3: What do my results mean?

  • Be Well Informed

    EGLE recommends that you contact your local health department if you have specific questions about your results and recommendations for any actions you should take in caring for your well and your water source. Another resource that you may use to understand your results is the Be Well Informed online tool.

    Use the Be Well Informed tool

Optional Step: Find information about your well and how to maintain your well.

Preview of the wetlands map viewer
Preview of the wetlands map viewer

Water Well Viewer

Find well records using an interactive map.

Launch the interactive map View the user guide

Contact

Brandon Morrill, EGLE-DWEHD-WellTesting@Michigan.gov, 989-619-4494