Well water testing in South Carolina
Nobody tests a private well unless the owner does. In South Carolina, the public record says to start with fluoride, nitrate, radium (226 + 228), 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
- 1Fluoride10% of 2,266 local samples were above the limit.
- 2Nitrate8% of 2,371 local samples were above the limit.
- 3Radium (226 + 228)4% of 361 local samples were above the limit.
- 4Lead1% of 846 local samples were above the limit.
- 5E. coli1% of 75 local samples were above the limit.
Test your South Carolina well for fluoride, nitrate and radium (226 + 228)
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. Environmental Laboratory Certification from SCDES lists every lab certified for drinking water in South Carolina. Call ahead: some take walk-in samples, some ship bottles.
The SCDES laboratory tests residential well samples for coliform bacteria at $20 per test and for metals and minerals (alkalinity, calcium, chloride, copper, hardness, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nitrate/nitrite, pH, zinc) at $50 per test, though the page says metals and minerals samples are not accepted from June 1st to October 31st, 2026. Details from the state
Free or low-cost testing: SCDES tests one coliform bacteria sample and one metals and minerals sample per year free of charge for well owners over age 65 or on public assistance (food stamps, WIC, Medicaid), gives new permitted wells their first coliform test at no extra charge, and accepts applications for private well PFAS assessments. How to get it
For questions about your well, Private Drinking Water Wells at SCDES 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Horry County | Fluoride | 48% |
| Allendale County | Nitrate | 35% |
| Orangeburg County | Nitrate | 32% |
| Charleston County | Fluoride | 15% |
| Georgetown County | Fluoride | 14% |
| Williamsburg County | Fluoride | 13% |
| Colleton County | Nitrate | 11% |
| Hampton County | Nitrate | 10% |
| Chesterfield County | Radium (226 + 228) | 8% |
| Richland County | Radium (226 + 228) | 8% |
| Beaufort County | Fluoride | 6% |
| Sumter County | Nitrate | 5% |
| Berkeley County | Fluoride | 4% |
| Lexington County | Lead | 4% |
| Barnwell County | Nitrate | 3% |
| Aiken County | Lead | 3% |
| Anderson County | Fluoride | 0% |
| Bamberg County | Fluoride | 0% |
| Chester County | Fluoride | 0% |
| Dorchester County | Nitrate | 0% |
| Florence County | Nitrate | 0% |
| Oconee County | Lead | 0% |
| York County | Arsenic | 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 South Carolina
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 South Carolina?
Start with fluoride, nitrate, radium (226 + 228). 10% of 2,266 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 South Carolina?
Use a lab certified for drinking water. SCDES 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 South Carolina?
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). The SCDES laboratory tests residential well samples for coliform bacteria at $20 per test and for metals and minerals (alkalinity, calcium, chloride, copper, hardness, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nitrate/nitrite, pH, zinc) at $50 per test, though the page says metals and minerals samples are not accepted from June 1st to October 31st, 2026.
Is there free well water testing in South Carolina?
SCDES tests one coliform bacteria sample and one metals and minerals sample per year free of charge for well owners over age 65 or on public assistance (food stamps, WIC, Medicaid), gives new permitted wells their first coliform test at no extra charge, and accepts applications for private well PFAS assessments.
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.