Certified labs by state
Alabama
About 800,000 Alabamians—roughly 20% of the state—use private wells, and ADPH says routine testing is highly recommended. In Alabama, ADEM certifies drinking-water laboratories, while ADPH and Alabama Extension provide the main resident-facing guidance for private well sampling, bacteria testing, and follow-up.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Certifies drinking water labs
- Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), Drinking Water Branch
- Official certified lab list
- Official page →
- Free or low-cost testing
- ADPH’s private-water sample instructions state that the fee is currently waived for each private water sample tested by the laboratory for bacteriological analysis: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/bcl/assets/privatewaterinstructionsandsampleform.pdf
Official resources in Alabama
Use this ADEM page to find the current certified drinking-water laboratory lists for bacteriological, chemical, and PFAS testing.
ADPH’s statewide private-well page explains Alabama well-owner responsibilities, bacteriological testing, and how to get sample containers or county help.
This Auburn/Alabama Extension program is the state’s main educational hub for private well stewardship, testing, treatment, and well-owner resources.
Use this Alabama Extension page for Alabama-specific recommendations on which private-well tests to run and how often.
This ADPH form gives the official collection instructions for private-well bacteriological samples and notes what the state lab does and does not test.
Key facts for Alabama
- ADEM certifies Alabama drinking-water labs and links current certified lab lists here: https://adem.alabama.gov/water/drinking-water-branch/information-public-water-systems/adem-drinking-water-laboratory-certification-program
- Alabama Extension recommends annual well tests for total coliform, fecal coliform, E. coli, nitrate, total dissolved solids, and pH: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/fish-water/water-testing-in-alabama-why-where-how/
- Alabama Extension recommends testing every 2–3 years for chloride, fluoride, sulfate, lead, hardness, calcium, copper, iron, and manganese: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/fish-water/water-testing-in-alabama-why-where-how/
- ADPH’s lab instructions say private-water samples are tested for total coliform bacteria, including E. coli; ADPH does not perform chemical analysis of private wells: https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/bcl/assets/privatewaterinstructionsandsampleform.pdf
- North Alabama’s Highland Rim karst aquifers are especially vulnerable to surface contamination; groundwater there is typically hard and can contain high iron: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/fish-water/common-contaminants-found-in-well-water/
- Extension says uranium occurs naturally in Alabama soils and rocks, and elevated radon levels have been detected in Alabama private-well drinking-water sources: https://www.aces.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ANR-2782_PrivateWellProgramHandbook_101022L-G.pdf
What to do next
- Use ADPH for bacteriological screening, but use an ADEM-certified laboratory for chemical contaminants such as nitrate, metals, uranium, or other location-specific concerns.
- If your well is in coastal south Alabama, ask about saltwater intrusion indicators; if it is in north Alabama karst, prioritize contamination checks after storms or surface runoff.
- Keep a dated file of all results and re-test after flooding, well repairs, long nonuse, or any change in taste, odor, color, or household illness.
Helpful guides
- How to choose a state-certified drinking water lab
- What to test your private well water for (and how often)
- How to collect a well water sample without ruining the test
- How to read a water test report: MCLs, units and flags