Total coliform in Pennsylvania well water
In Pennsylvania, 44% of 22,730 private wells tested between 2007 and 2025 had total coliform above the EPA limit (0 MPN/100mL), according to the Penn State water testing lab.
Coliform bacteria live in soil and on plants as well as in sewage. Their presence means surface water or soil is getting into the well through the cap, casing or a nearby defect. Most coliforms are harmless, but they mean disease-causing organisms can get in the same way.
Check your total coliform number
Type the value from your lab report. It is compared to the EPA limit and the EPA limit, the same way the full interpretation does it.
Test your Pennsylvania well for total coliform
Certified lab analysis of your own tap water, bottles and prepaid return shipping included. The Essential well panel covers arsenic, uranium, nitrate, lead, copper, manganese, iron, sodium and bacteria; radon and PFAS are add-ons.
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Systems that remove total coliform
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Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the merchant pays us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we list or what the data says.
For total coliform
Aquasana Rhino Well Water with UV
whole-house, at the point of entry, about $2,871
Whole-house system built for wells: sediment pre-filter, KDF and carbon, and a UV lamp rated to kill 99.99% of bacteria and viruses. It does not remove arsenic, nitrate, uranium or radon.
Rather have it installed and sized for your well? Book a free in-home water test with a licensed local company.
Where to get a well tested for total coliform in Pennsylvania: certified labs, state programs and prices.
By county, from homeowner tests
Share of private wells above the state guidance level (0 MPN/100mL) in tests homeowners sent to the state lab, 2008 to 2025.
| County | Above state level | Wells tested | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene | 106 | 228 MPN/100mL | |
| Clearfield | 142 | 517 MPN/100mL | |
| Armstrong | 124 | 201 MPN/100mL | |
| Cameron | 119 | 201 MPN/100mL | |
| Washington | 418 | 1011 MPN/100mL | |
| Jefferson | 131 | 201 MPN/100mL | |
| Forest | 81 | 201 MPN/100mL | |
| Fayette | 141 | 201 MPN/100mL | |
| Elk | 100 | 687 MPN/100mL | |
| McKean | 542 | 228 MPN/100mL | |
| Indiana | 153 | 1414 MPN/100mL | |
| Cambria | 105 | 457 MPN/100mL | |
| Allegheny | 308 | 401 MPN/100mL | |
| Westmoreland | 783 | 2420 MPN/100mL | |
| Fulton | 58 | 201 MPN/100mL |
Sources
- Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab drinking water summaries: County summaries of private water samples tested by the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory since 2007, published by the College of Agricultural Sciences. Counts are samples, not distinct wells. Shares are against the standard the lab prints: the EPA maximum contaminant level, or the secondary standard for iron, manganese and chloride. Lead is the first-draw result. Medians printed as 0.00 are stored as null because the lab rounds to two decimals. Retrieved September 16, 2026.