Well water testing in Oregon
Nobody tests a private well unless the owner does. In Oregon, the public record says to start with E. coli, arsenic, nitrate, then bacteria 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
- 1E. coli59% of 49 local samples were above the limit.
- 2Arsenic39% of 4,750 local samples were above the limit.
- 3Nitrate17% of 2,606 local samples were above the limit.
- 4Lead10% of 1,423 local samples were above the limit.
- 5Uranium2% of 1,269 local samples were above the limit.
Test your Oregon well for E. coli, arsenic and nitrate
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.
A local certified lab is the second route. Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program from Oregon Health Authority lists every lab certified for drinking water in Oregon. Call ahead: some take walk-in samples, some ship bottles.
Free or low-cost testing: The Oregon Health Authority offers a free well water test voucher, focused on nitrate, to households whose drinking water well is in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area in Morrow and Umatilla counties. How to get it
For questions about your well, Domestic Well Safety at Oregon Health Authority is the official source.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Malheur County | Arsenic | 93% |
| Clatsop County | Arsenic | 62% |
| Gilliam County | Arsenic | 56% |
| Washington County | Arsenic | 51% |
| Lane County | Arsenic | 50% |
| Coos County | Arsenic | 48% |
| Lake County | Arsenic | 47% |
| Harney County | Arsenic | 35% |
| Benton County | Arsenic | 33% |
| Multnomah County | Arsenic | 29% |
| Marion County | Lead | 29% |
| Lincoln County | Arsenic | 27% |
| Tillamook County | Lead | 21% |
| Douglas County | Arsenic | 20% |
| Yamhill County | Arsenic | 19% |
| Morrow County | Arsenic | 18% |
| Umatilla County | Nitrate | 17% |
| Jackson County | Arsenic | 14% |
| Linn County | Nitrate | 9% |
| Josephine County | Lead | 7% |
| Wasco County | Fluoride | 7% |
| Klamath County | Arsenic | 7% |
| Baker County | Arsenic | 6% |
| Deschutes County | Nitrate | 6% |
| Clackamas County | Nitrate | 3% |
| Polk County | Nitrate | 2% |
| Columbia County | Nitrate | 0% |
| Crook County | Fluoride | 0% |
| Union County | Copper | 0% |
| Wallowa County | Copper | 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 Oregon
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 Oregon?
Start with E. coli, arsenic, nitrate. 59% of 49 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 Oregon?
Use a lab certified for drinking water. Oregon Health Authority keeps the list of certified labs. A mail-in kit from a certified lab works anywhere in the state.
How much does well water testing cost in Oregon?
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).
Is there free well water testing in Oregon?
The Oregon Health Authority offers a free well water test voucher, focused on nitrate, to households whose drinking water well is in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area in Morrow and Umatilla counties.
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.