A complete list of all programs within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
Community involvement and public participation are an essential part of EGLE’s mission, vision, and values.
Resources and information on utilizing RRD's data exchange and the Inventory of Facilities.
An interactive map displaying contaminated sites throughout Michigan regulated under Parts 213, 201, and 211.
EGLE's interactive calendar is designed to provide timely information on decisions before the Director, proposed settlements of contested cases, administrative rules promulgation, public hearings, meetings and comment deadlines, and environmental conferences, workshops and training programs.
The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides all persons (except persons incarcerated in correctional facilities) with access to public records of public bodies. Requests to inspect or receive public records from EGLE must be in writing and describe the requested records with enough detail to enable the department to identify and locate the requested records. Some records are exempt from disclosure under the FOIA or another statute and thus will not be provided. A fee may be charged to process your request. Please note that many records are available that do not require a formal FOIA request.
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There are many reasons to get your drinking water tested, including but not limited to...
Groundwater conditions can change over time and EGLE recommends you inspect your well and test for coliform bacteria and nitrates annually as a part of routine well maintenance.
The following steps apply to homeowners who have a private residential well.
If you are on a community water supply, please note that your community water supplier is legally required to regularly test the water they provide as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act and make the results available to their customers. If you still have concerns and would like to test your water, proceed to step 1.
You should contact your local health department for a recommendation of what to have your water tested for. Recommendations may differ based on water conditions in your area, household makeup, and your own water quality concerns. Visit MALPH.org to find your local health department.
Standard water quality concerns for private wells include coliforms, nitrites, some metals (like arsenic and lead), and any other additional parameters recommended by your Local Health Department, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), or EGLE's drinking water program.
Still not sure what to test for? Find your concern (taste, smell, odor, color, etc.) using our Common Drinking Water Quality Concerns page to find which test(s) may be recommended based on what you're concerned about.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) recommends that, at a minimum, all private wells should be tested for coliform bacteria and nitrate/nitrite.
The EGLE drinking water laboratory offers many tests, including microbiology, inorganics, organics, and metals. Review our Request for Water Analysis Form to learn what we test for, and use our Testing Fee Schedule to check which items are included under specific bundles.
EGLE laboratory:
Call the lab at 517-335-8184 to request your test kit(s).
You can choose to ship your order to your home or you may pick it up at the laboratory by scheduling a pickup appointment when you're notified that your order is ready.
Please allow 5-7 business days to process your order, plus additional time for shipping.
Private laboratory:
To locate a private laboratory in your area, visit our Laboratory Certification Program page and select the laboratory list you're most interested in.
No. You must use a sample container specifically required for the testing that will be done on your water sample.
The laboratory’s sample containers have been quality control checked for specific analyses to ensure they meet test method requirements and are free of contaminants.
You must also return your sample to the lab you ordered your test kit from; laboratories will generally only test samples that were collected in their sample containers.
EGLE laboratory:
If you ordered a kit from the EGLE lab, we have several video tutorials available.
Collect your sample and review the form to ensure it is accurate and complete. Samples submitted with incomplete forms will be rejected by the laboratory. Submit your sample as detailed on the analysis request form. Options may include:
If you have additional collection or submittal questions, contact the EGLE Laboratory at 517-335-8184.
Private laboratory:
Contact your selected laboratory with any questions regarding sample collection, submission, or reporting.
If you are missing instructions or forms required to complete your sample collection, please contact the lab you ordered your testing kit from.
For test kits from the EGLE lab, we have all instructions and forms available online on the Drinking Water Laboratory page.
Important: different bottles have different collection requirements based on testing methods and any preservatives that may be included in your bottle or kit. Samples that aren’t collected correctly and don’t meet testing requirements when received at the laboratory will not be accepted for testing, because test results may not be accurate.
The EGLE drinking water laboratory does not make interpretations about your water quality or water sample test results. We recommend 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. Find your county's local health department at MALPH.org/Resources/Directory.
In addition, you can use the Be Well Informed application. This web-based application, hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), allows you to enter your lab results and get information tailored to your specific results. The results summary will indicate whether your water meets federal and state health-based standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels - MCLs) as well as other guidelines (Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels - SMCLs, health advisory levels, etc.). These standards and guidelines are often referred to as "limits" on your laboratory report. If your water exceeds or is approaching established federal/state drinking water limits or advisory levels for the contaminant(s) entered, additional health information and treatment options will be shown.
EGLE laboratory:
When you fill out your request form completely, your results will be mailed via U.S. Mail (and by email if you provided an email address). You can expect testing to be completed on your water sample in approximately up to 10 business days after your sample is received at the laboratory for most testing, with additional time to mail your results.
Private laboratory:
Contact the lab you ordered your test kit from to find out how long testing will take and how you'll receive your results.
Water is supplied to your home from either a community water supply or a private well. A general rule to follow is if you get a bill for your water, you are on a community water supply and your water is already getting tested.
If you determine that your water is supplied by a community water supply, we recommend that you contact your local water supplier - this should be the agency listed on your water bill. They are legally required to regularly test the water they provide as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act, and to make the results available to their customers.
Learn more about the different types of water supplies.
Find more specific information, such as Safety Data Sheets (SDS), updates on our lab procedures and testing fee schedule, lab certification information, and more at
EGLE's drinking water laboratoryFind information about well care and water quality
Learn what changes in taste, color, odor, appearance, and pressure may mean
Look up your well records if you don't have them
Visit our testing and sampling frequently asked questions page
