Guides
Find a Water Lab guides
Plain, sourced guides on state-certified drinking water testing laboratories for private well owners and homeowners. Every guide lists the official sources it is based on.
Water testing
How to choose a state-certified drinking water lab
Learn how to choose a state-certified drinking water lab for your private well, verify certification, ask the right questions, and avoid bad samples.
Read the guide →How to read a water test report: MCLs, units and flags
Learn how to read a private well water test report, including MCLs, common units like mg/L and µg/L, and lab flags such as ND, U and J.
Read the guide →Testing for lead in drinking water at home
Learn when and how to test your home's drinking water for lead, how to collect the right sample, what results mean, and what to do next.
Read the guide →Well Water
What to test your private well water for (and how often)
Learn what to test your private well water for, when to retest, and how to build a simple yearly schedule using a state-certified lab.
Read the guide →Nitrate in well water, infants and what to do
Nitrate in well water can be dangerous for infants. Learn the 10 mg/L limit, how to test, when to use bottled water, and what treatment options help.
Read the guide →Arsenic in private wells: testing and treatment options
Plain-English guide to arsenic in private well water: when to test, how to understand lab results, and treatment options that can lower exposure.
Read the guide →Well Testing
Well testing
Water Testing
Home water test kits vs. certified lab tests
Learn when a home water test kit is enough, when to use a state-certified lab, and how private well owners can get results they can trust.
Read the guide →PFAS in private wells: should you test and where
Learn when PFAS testing makes sense for a private well, how to find a state-certified lab, what results can mean, and practical next steps.
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