Well water testing in Alaska
Nobody tests a private well unless the owner does. In Alaska, the public record says to start with arsenic, lead, fluoride, then bacteria and nitrate every year. Below: what to order, where, what it costs, and the county-by-county results that set the order.
What to test for first
- 1Arsenic8% of 10,714 local samples were above the limit.
- 2Lead4% of 509 local samples were above the limit.
- 3Fluoride2% of 2,861 local samples were above the limit.
- 4Nitrate2% of 6,617 local samples were above the limit.
- 5Copper<1% of 488 local samples were above the limit.
Test your Alaska well for arsenic, lead and fluoride
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.
Order the Tap Score well water test kit, from $209Already tested? Upload the report
Just want bacteria checked first? Tap Score coliform and E. coli test, $99. Coliform and E. coli are the tests every well needs every year.
Want a quick look before paying for a lab? Home well water test strips on Amazon check hardness, iron, pH and nitrate in minutes. They are a screen, not a result: arsenic, bacteria, uranium and PFAS need a certified lab.
Affiliate links: the merchant pays us a commission and the price is the same for you. It does not change what the data above says. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Where to get it tested
Three routes, and all of them work. A mail-in kit from a certified lab is the simplest: the lab ships bottles, you fill them at the kitchen tap, and results come back by email. The full panel above is $209.
Already have results? Get the lab report read line by line, $29.
Testing by county
The contaminant most often over its limit in each county's public record, highest share first. Open a county for the full test list and its towns.
| County | Test first for | Over the limit |
|---|---|---|
| Bethel County | Arsenic | 50% |
| Kenai Peninsula County | Arsenic | 37% |
| Fairbanks North Star County | Arsenic | 31% |
| Matanuska-Susitna County | Arsenic | 20% |
| Anchorage County | Lead | 9% |
| Yukon-Koyukuk County | Nitrate | 4% |
| Juneau County | Fluoride | 3% |
| Bristol Bay County | Fluoride | 0% |
| Copper River County | Fluoride | 0% |
| Denali County | Nitrate | 0% |
| North Slope County | Nitrate | 0% |
| Yakutat County | Nitrate | 0% |
Closer than the county: see the sampled wells near your address.
Free, no obligation
Get on the list for a free in-home water test in Alaska
We are signing licensed water treatment companies county by county. They test at your tap for free, walk you through the numbers, and quote treatment only if something needs fixing. Nothing is shared until a company joins for your area, and you get an email naming it first.
Common questions
What should I test my well for in Alaska?
Start with arsenic, lead, fluoride. 8% of 10,714 local samples were above the limit. Add total coliform bacteria and nitrate every year for any private well.
Where can I get my well water tested in Alaska?
Use a lab certified for drinking water. A mail-in kit from a certified lab works anywhere in Alaska.
How much does well water testing cost in Alaska?
A full mail-in panel from a certified lab costs $209 (Tap Score well water test kit). A bacteria-only test costs $99 (Tap Score coliform and E. coli test).
How often should a private well be tested?
Bacteria and nitrate every year. A full panel once, then again after flooding, a change in taste, smell or color, work on the well, a new baby in the house, or a nearby result above the limit. Contaminants that come from the rock, like arsenic, radon and uranium, change slowly, so one good test and a check every few years is enough.