Certified labs by state
New Hampshire
New Hampshire relies heavily on private wells: NHDES says about 46% of residents get home water from a private well. State materials also emphasize that naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic, uranium, and radon are common in New Hampshire groundwater, while PFAS concerns are especially noted in southern New Hampshire.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Certifies drinking water labs
- New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NH ELAP), New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
- Official certified lab list
- Official page →
- Free or low-cost testing
- NHDES and the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund reported free private-well testing workshops through the Seacoast Private Well Initiative in participating seacoast municipalities; I did not find a statewide free general well-testing program page.
Official resources in New Hampshire
Official NHDES overview of what private-well owners should test for, when to test, and what conditions call for extra testing.
Official NHDES list of accredited laboratories that provide well-water testing services for New Hampshire private well users and home buyers.
Detailed NHDES fact sheet with recommended contaminants, testing frequency, and additional tests such as PFAS and VOCs.
Official state lab guide describing available household water-test packages and sample collection instructions.
Official report describing the Seacoast Private Well Initiative, including free water-testing workshops in participating municipalities.
Key facts for New Hampshire
- NHDES: The New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program accredits drinking-water laboratories.
- NHDES: Private well users should test bacteria and nitrate yearly; broader standard, radon, PFAS, and VOC testing is recommended every 3-5 years.
- NHDES: Common New Hampshire well contaminants include radon, arsenic, and bacteria.
- NHDES: Common naturally occurring groundwater contaminants include bacteria, arsenic, uranium, iron, manganese, and radon.
- NHDES: PFAS have affected wells statewide and are more frequently detected at elevated levels in southern New Hampshire.
- DWGTF/NHDES: The Seacoast Private Well Initiative provided free water testing for private well owners in participating seacoast municipalities.
What to do next
- Use an NHDES-accredited lab from the state list, then compare your results to NHDES private-well guidance.
- If your well is in bedrock, include radon and uranium; if you are in developed areas or near spills, ask about PFAS and VOC testing too.
- Check whether your town was included in the Seacoast Private Well Initiative or nearby PFAS-response sampling before paying for specialty testing.
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