Certified labs by state
Kansas
About 7% of Kansans use privately owned wells, and KDHE says private well owners are responsible for regularly testing their water. Kansas also has region-specific concerns documented by KDHE, including nitrate and studies in northwest and southwest Kansas for uranium, arsenic, selenium, radium, and related mineral contaminants. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1448/Private-Water-Well-Testing))
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Certifies drinking water labs
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Environmental Laboratory Improvement Office (ELIPO). ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/513/Laboratory-Services?utm_source=openai))
- Official certified lab list
- Official page →
- Free or low-cost testing
- KDHE says KHEL will test a properly collected private-well sample for coliform indicators at no charge when a physician or public health professional believes a health problem may exist and the well has been inspected; otherwise routine testing is through certified private labs. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1013/Testing-of-Private-Water-Wells))
Official resources in Kansas
Kansas’s main state page for private-well owners, with testing guidance and links to current study areas. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1448/Private-Water-Well-Testing))
Interactive map showing county sanitarians, whether counties offer sampling kits or services, and certified labs used for private well testing. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1851/Private-Well-Resource-Map))
Official KDHE access page for searching laboratories certified with the state of Kansas. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1286/Kansas-Environmental-Lab-Accreditation-D?utm_source=openai))
State program page for well construction, licensed contractors, and contamination advisories such as oilfield brine/saltwater areas. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/347/Water-Well-Program))
Land-grant guidance on choosing private-well tests and understanding nitrate risks and follow-up testing. ([bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu](https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/water-quality-tests-for-private-wells_MF3679?utm_source=openai))
Key facts for Kansas
- KDHE recommends annual testing for total coliform bacteria and nitrate in private wells. ([coronavirus.kdheks.gov](https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8964/Recommended-Water-Tests-for-Private-Wells-PDF))
- KDHE says most other private-well contaminants can usually be tested every 1 to 3 years to establish a baseline. ([coronavirus.kdheks.gov](https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8964/Recommended-Water-Tests-for-Private-Wells-PDF))
- Kansas-certified commercial drinking-water labs are certified by KDHE’s Environmental Laboratory Improvement Office. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/513/Laboratory-Services?utm_source=openai))
- KDHE’s northwest mineralization study covered private wells in Norton, Phillips, Decatur, and Rawlins counties and tested uranium, arsenic, selenium, nitrate, chloride, iron, manganese, and sulfate. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1451/NW-Mineralization-Study))
- KDHE’s southwest mineralization study in parts of Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Gray, and Ford counties evaluated arsenic, nitrate, uranium, radium, gross alpha/beta, and related salts/minerals. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1450/SW-Mineralization-Study?utm_source=openai))
- KDHE warns historic oilfield brine contamination can produce very high chloride in parts of counties including Barber, Decatur, Ellis, Graham, Harvey, Haskell, Reno, Sedgwick, Stafford, and Wilson. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/347/Water-Well-Program))
What to do next
- Start with KDHE’s Private Well Resource Map to see whether your county sanitarian offers sampling kits or services before paying a private lab. ([kdhe.ks.gov](https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1851/Private-Well-Resource-Map))
- For routine screening, order at least total coliform and nitrate every year; then add site-specific tests if you are near agriculture, septic systems, oil and gas, mines, or landfills. ([coronavirus.kdheks.gov](https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8964/Recommended-Water-Tests-for-Private-Wells-PDF))
- If your well flooded, was recently repaired, or the water changed in taste, odor, color, or turbidity, contact local health staff before sampling and ask about bacterial testing and disinfection guidance. ([coronavirus.kdheks.gov](https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8964/Recommended-Water-Tests-for-Private-Wells-PDF))
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