Certified labs by state
Tennessee
Tennessee places private well construction and licensed installer oversight with TDEC, but the state does not require routine sampling of private well water. Current Tennessee guidance emphasizes regular pathogen and chemical testing, special attention to radon in parts of Middle and East Tennessee, and use of TDEC-certified drinking-water laboratories. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality/well-water.html?utm_source=openai))
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- Certifies drinking water labs
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Division of Water Resources, Laboratory Certification Program
- Official certified lab list
- Official page →
- Free or low-cost testing
- The Tennessee Department of Health says its private-water initiative, formerly SafeWATCH, offers free water quality testing for eligible private wells and springs; residents are told to contact the Waterborne Disease Team for availability. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/waterborne.html))
Official resources in Tennessee
State well-owner page covering private wells, sampling expectations, well records, licensed drillers/installers, and related Tennessee resources. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality/well-water.html?utm_source=openai))
Tennessee Department of Health page with current private-water testing recommendations and the state-supported free testing availability notice for eligible wells and springs. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/waterborne.html))
Official statewide radon page with county-level context and free home radon test kits; useful because radon can also enter homes from well water in smaller amounts. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/stewardship/programs/radon.html?utm_source=openai))
Official Tennessee manual for private well owners with maintenance, contamination sources, and testing guidance. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/TnHealthyWell.pdf))
Key facts for Tennessee
- TDEC’s Division of Water Resources Laboratory Certification Program certifies drinking-water labs for chemistry, microbiology, radiochemistry, and Cryptosporidium. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality/drinking-water-redirect/lab-certification-program.html))
- Tennessee has no state-required sampling schedule for private water supplies. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality/well-water.html?utm_source=openai))
- TDH encourages annual testing for pathogens and at least every other year for chemical contaminants. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/waterborne.html))
- Tennessee’s private-water initiative, formerly SafeWATCH, offers free testing for eligible private wells and springs; availability is through TDH’s Waterborne Disease Team. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/waterborne.html))
- TDEC says elevated radon is more prevalent in East Tennessee, but action-level radon has been detected in all counties. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/stewardship/programs/radon.html?utm_source=openai))
- TDEC’s groundwater report says natural arsenic is not a statewide Tennessee problem, and statewide public-groundwater studies did not show a general uranium problem. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/environment/water/drinking-water-unit/wr_wq_report-groundwater-305b-2020.pdf))
What to do next
- Start with TDEC’s certified-lab page, then choose a lab that offers the analytes you need; Tennessee posts separate commercial and microbiological lists. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/water-quality/drinking-water-redirect/lab-certification-program.html))
- For a private well, follow Tennessee guidance by testing yearly for pathogens, every other year for chemicals, and more often near current or former industrial land uses. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/tn/health/waterborne.html))
- If you are in Middle or East Tennessee, add a home radon test and ask your lab whether water-radon testing is appropriate for your well. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/environment/stewardship/programs/radon.html?utm_source=openai))
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