Certified labs by state
Virginia
Virginia private wells are overseen through the Virginia Department of Health’s private well program, while drinking-water lab certification is handled through the Commonwealth’s Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services. Virginia guidance is notably geology-aware: VDH specifically flags naturally occurring radon, arsenic, and other radiological contaminants in groundwater, and Virginia Cooperative Extension offers statewide well-water clinics and interpretation help. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/private-well-program/?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
- Virginia Department of General Services, Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS)
- Official certified lab list
- Official page →
- Free or low-cost testing
- No statewide free well-testing program was found, but Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Virginia Household Water Quality Program offers $70 clinic-based testing, says SERCAP funding may help cover costs, and some local clinics advertise subsidized kits or sponsor discounts. ([wellwater.bse.vt.edu](https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/vahwqp.php?utm_source=openai))
Official resources in Virginia
Virginia’s main resident page for private wells, with testing guidance, permits, PFAS information, and the Be Well Informed Virginia tool. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/private-well-program/?utm_source=openai))
VDH’s detailed testing schedule, recommended analytes, and explanations of when to add tests for lead, nitrate, bacteria, radiological contaminants, petroleum, or pesticides. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
Official Virginia page where residents can find current accredited or certified labs, including the drinking-water laboratories list with certification detail. ([dgs.virginia.gov](https://dgs.virginia.gov/division-of-consolidated-laboratory-services/certification-accreditation/find-a-lab))
VDH assistance page for eligible low-income homeowners needing repair or replacement of inadequate private drinking water supplies. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/swap/?utm_source=openai))
Key facts for Virginia
- Virginia drinking-water labs for SDWA work must be certified by the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services; VDH’s Office of Drinking Water oversees SDWA requirements. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/information-for-laboratories/?utm_source=openai))
- Virginia requires newly constructed private wells to be tested for coliform organisms before use; later testing is generally the owner’s decision. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
- VDH recommends annual testing for nitrate and bacteriological contaminants, basic indicators every 5 years if no problems appear, and radiological testing at least once. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
- VDH’s basic private-well panel includes arsenic, lead, nitrite/nitrate, bacteria, pH, hardness, iron, manganese, sodium, sulfate, TDS, turbidity, and more. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
- VDH says Virginia rocks can contribute naturally occurring radioactive elements; its recommended radiological analysis tests uranium, gross alpha, and radon. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
- Virginia Tech research found higher occurrences of elevated arsenic in north-central Virginia’s Culpeper Basin Triassic sedimentary and Triassic-Jurassic intrusive units. ([vtechworks.lib.vt.edu](https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/items/2616aa29-fa0a-4627-91c7-fe99f9efe663?utm_source=openai))
What to do next
- Start with VDH’s schedule: order annual bacteria and nitrate tests, add the 5-year basic indicators panel, and get radiological testing at least once. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
- Use the DCLS lab search or drinking-water lab list, and choose a lab certified for the exact analytes you need, such as arsenic, uranium, nitrate, or coliform. ([dgs.virginia.gov](https://dgs.virginia.gov/division-of-consolidated-laboratory-services/certification-accreditation/find-a-lab))
- If your well floods or the water’s taste, odor, color, or clarity changes, contact your local health department and consider entering results into Be Well Informed Virginia. ([vdh.virginia.gov](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/environmental-health/onsite-sewage-water-services-updated/organizations/private-well-water-information/guidance-on-testing-your-private-well-water/))
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