What to Test Well Water For (By Situation)

"What to test well water for" sounds like there should be one simple checklist.

In reality, private wells vary. Two homes a few miles apart can have different risks because of:

• well depth and construction
• local geology
• proximity to septic systems
• nearby farming or industry
• drainage around the wellhead
• plumbing materials inside the home

So instead of one mega-list, it helps to choose tests by scenario.

This guide does exactly that.

If you want explanations of individual contaminants in plain language, use: Well water contaminants guide hub

If you don't know where to start, start with a baseline.

Test annually for:

• Total coliform bacteria
• Nitrates
• Total dissolved solids (TDS)
• pH

This gives you a reliable yearly snapshot and a trend line over time. (CDC)

Why These Baseline Tests Matter

• Bacteria indicators help catch sanitary integrity issues and surface contamination pathways.
• Nitrates are important in many rural areas and matter most for infants.
• pH helps you understand corrosivity, which can influence metals leaching from plumbing.
• TDS is a broad "overall dissolved content" indicator that helps you notice changes.

From there, you add tests based on your situation.

This is your normal year plan.

What to Test Well Water For Each Year

Start with the baseline:

• total coliform bacteria
• nitrates
• TDS
• pH (CDC)

Then consider adding one or two "common add-ons" based on what you actually experience in your home.

Common Add-Ons That Match Everyday Complaints

If your water causes staining or nuisance issues, these are the tests that often answer "why":

• Iron and manganese if you see rust-colored stains, black staining, or metallic taste.
• Hardness (calcium and magnesium) if you have scale buildup, dry skin complaints, or soap not lathering.
• Alkalinity if you are trying to understand corrosivity more clearly alongside pH.

These are usually about usability and plumbing protection, but they also make your water feel more predictable.

Common Add-Ons Based on Household Risk

These aren't about taste and smell. They're about risk triggers.

• Lead if you have older plumbing or want a clearer picture of what comes out of the tap.
• Arsenic if it is a known regional concern (your lab or health department can tell you).
• Radon in water in areas where radon is common and you use well water.

The easiest way to choose these add-ons is to ask your lab: "What do you commonly recommend for private wells in my area?"

Real estate testing is different because you are balancing three things:

• safety and peace of mind
• timelines and logistics
• documentation requirements

What Tests Are Needed for Well Water in a Real Estate Transaction

There is no single national list. Requirements can be driven by:

• lender rules
• local practice
• transaction type (FHA/VA vs conventional)
• state or county requirements in some places

Start here: Find well water testing requirements by state

A Practical "Buyer and Seller" Testing Approach

If you want a reasonable, widely applicable approach that works in many transactions:

Baseline panel (bacteria indicators + nitrates + pH + TDS). (CDC)

Add targeted tests based on the property and region:

• metals screening if the region is known for certain metals
• lead if the home has older plumbing or fixtures
• radionuclides where relevant
• VOCs if there is a nearby risk source or property history that suggests it

Documentation Tips That Avoid Last-Minute Stress

• Ask early whether a certified lab report is required.
• Ask if chain of custody is needed (some lenders want it).
• Plan sample timing around holding times, especially for bacteria tests.
• Keep copies of all reports and retest documentation.

If you need to find a certified lab or sampling help near the property, start with: Find well water testing near me

If you just bought a home with a private well, or you inherited a property, you are missing the most useful tool: history.

In this scenario, testing isn't just about "pass or fail." It's about learning what's normal for your well.

What to Test Well Water For When You Are New to the Well

Start with:

• baseline panel (bacteria indicators + nitrates + pH + TDS) (CDC)

Then consider an expanded screen once, so you have a fuller snapshot.

A reasonable one-time expansion often includes:

• general minerals (hardness, iron, manganese)
• metals screening (commonly chosen based on local concerns)
• anything your local health department calls "of local concern"

Repeat Once to Confirm Stability

Many well owners do:

• an initial comprehensive snapshot
• a follow-up baseline test within 6 to 12 months

If those results are stable, you can usually switch to annual baseline testing plus trigger-based testing.

This approach keeps you from paying for the biggest panel every year while still building confidence.

Flooding is a clear trigger because it can introduce contaminants through the wellhead, seals, or cracks.

Even without dramatic flooding, standing water around the well casing isn't something to ignore.

What to Test Well Water For After Flooding

Start with:

• bacteria indicators (total coliform and often E. coli as part of the bacteria analysis)
• nitrates

Then add tests based on what happened:

• If floodwater covered chemical storage, fuel tanks, or agricultural areas nearby, ask your lab about targeted chemical panels that match that risk.
• If sediment, discoloration, or odor is present, add the nuisance chemistry tests that match those symptoms (iron, manganese, pH).

Do Not Rush the Timing

If your well was disinfected after flooding, you usually need to wait until the system is flushed and stable before testing, otherwise your sample may not represent normal conditions.

When in doubt, ask your lab or health department what sampling timing they recommend after disinfection.

Focus on Wellhead Inspection Too

After flood events, testing is only part of the solution.

Also check:

• well cap condition and seal
• whether the ground slopes away from the well
• whether runoff is channeling toward the well

If those items aren't addressed, problems can recur.

This scenario is less about fear and more about smart prevention.

Certain contaminants matter more when:

• a baby is in the home
• someone is pregnant
• someone is medically vulnerable

What to Test Well Water For When There Is an Infant or Pregnancy

Start with:

• bacteria indicators
• nitrates
• pH and TDS baseline (CDC)

Then consider:

• lead (especially if the home has older plumbing, fixtures, or you are unsure what materials are present)

If you are in an area with a known local concern, ask your lab what is most common in private wells locally and add that as a targeted test.

Why This Scenario Benefits from "Before and After" Testing

If you have any treatment equipment (like filters or a softener), you may want to test:

• once at a point that reflects what you actually drink (often the kitchen tap)
• and optionally at a point before treatment if you are trying to understand the well water itself

This isn't required, but it can make troubleshooting much easier.

Many homeowners ask for a "bacteria nitrate well water test" because it feels like the essentials.

That is a reasonable instinct.

A bacteria and nitrate focused test is one of the most practical starting points for safety-related concerns, and it is often part of an annual baseline strategy. (CDC)

If you only have budget for a small set of tests, starting with bacteria indicators and nitrates, plus basic measures like pH and TDS, is usually smarter than buying a random "everything" kit that doesn't match your risk.

"Well water testing panels" are bundles. Panels can save money, but only if the panel matches your needs.

Three Common Panel Types

• Basic annual panel - Focuses on baseline indicators and common safety checks.
• Expanded homeowner panel - Adds general chemistry and a metals screen.
• Targeted risk panel - Built around one concern, like pesticides near agriculture or VOCs near industry.

How to Pick a Panel Quickly

Ask your provider these questions:

• What panel do you recommend for routine annual testing?
• What do you recommend for my situation (new baby, flooding, real estate)?
• Do you recommend a targeted add-on based on local concerns?
• Will you explain the results in plain language?

If you want the most defensible approach, use a certified lab or a provider that uses certified lab analysis.

Find well water testing near me

If you are testing because something seems "off," symptoms can guide the add-ons.

Here are common clues and what they often point to.

Rust Stains, Reddish Water, Metallic Taste

Common tests to add:

• iron
• manganese

Black Staining, Bitter Taste, or Discoloration

Consider:

• manganese
• pH

White Scale Buildup, Cloudy Water When Heated, Soap Not Lathering

Consider:

• hardness (calcium and magnesium)
• alkalinity (helps interpret scaling potential)

Blue-Green Stains or Pinhole Leaks

Consider:

• pH (low pH can contribute to corrosivity)
• alkalinity

If you are seeing corrosion issues, it is also reasonable to consider lead testing at the tap, especially in older homes.

Rotten Egg Smell

Odor can be caused by several things, including sulfur-related issues or bacteria in plumbing.

Start with:

• bacteria indicators
• basic chemistry, then ask a local professional if additional tests are needed based on your specific odor pattern.

If you want a fast way to decide what to test well water for, use this:

Step 1: Choose Your Scenario

• annual routine
• real estate
• new well or unknown history
• after flooding or repairs
• infant or pregnancy

Step 2: Start with the Baseline Panel

Total coliform, nitrates, pH, TDS. (CDC)

Step 3: Add Only What Your Situation Justifies

• symptoms-based add-ons (iron, manganese, hardness)
• risk-based add-ons (lead, arsenic, radon, VOCs, pesticides, PFAS where relevant)

Step 4: Keep Your Reports

A simple folder of results is one of the most useful tools you can have as a well owner.

A few patterns cause wasted money and confusing results.

• Do not buy the biggest panel every year "just in case" unless you have a reason.
• Do not assume treatment sales testing equals independent lab testing.
• Do not collect bacteria samples without following sterile instructions exactly.
• Do not ignore wellhead drainage issues and assume testing alone solves it.

Testing tells you what is happening. Maintenance and repairs reduce the chance it happens again.