Certified labs by state
District of Columbia
District residents are usually served by public drinking water from the Potomac River, and EPA Region 3—not a DC primacy agency—administers the public water system program for the District. For wells, the main official DC function I found is permitting through DOEE; I did not find a DC-specific private-well testing guidance page with recommended analyte schedules.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Certifies drinking water labs
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3, LSASD-LS
- Official certified lab list
- Official page →
- Free or low-cost testing
- DC Water says residential and commercial customers can request a free annual lead test kit, but I did not find an official DC free or subsidized private-well testing program.
Official resources in District of Columbia
EPA’s main page for finding the drinking-water laboratory certification program and the official state-by-state laboratory list document.
The official state-by-state PDF showing who certifies drinking-water labs; for DC it lists EPA Region 3 and says the lab list is not available.
District page for constructing wells/borings, including permit steps, exemptions, and the Surface and Groundwater System application process.
DC Water’s customer page explaining how residents can request a free annual lead test kit.
Key facts for District of Columbia
- EPA’s 2025 state-certification PDF lists DC’s drinking-water lab certifier as U.S. EPA Region 3, LSASD-LS, and says the DC lab list is “not available.”
- EPA’s 2023 District compliance report says DC does not have primacy; EPA Region 3 administers the Public Water System Supervision program.
- DOEE says well construction in DC is reviewed under 21 DCMR Chapter 18 through its Surface and Groundwater System.
- DOEE says private-property well projects must first get a soil boring permit number from DOB before the detailed DOEE application.
- DOEE says drinking water in the District comes from the Potomac River, upstream of the District.
- DOEE says radon is a naturally occurring gas that comes from uranium deposits in soil, rock, and water.
What to do next
- If you need a certified drinking-water lab for DC, start with EPA’s certification page and the state-by-state PDF; DC’s own lab-list entry is marked unavailable.
- If your property involves a private well or boring, check DOEE permit requirements first; private-space projects need a DOB soil boring permit number before DOEE review.
- If your concern is lead in DC tap water, request DC Water’s free annual lead test kit and review your service-line status.
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