Well water testing in Vermont
Nobody tests a private well unless the owner does. In Vermont, the public record says to start with nitrate, arsenic, uranium, 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
- 1Nitrate3% of 286 local samples were above the limit.
- 2Arsenic3% of 22,062 local wells tested were above the Vermont limit.
- 3Uranium1% of 19,240 local wells tested were above the Vermont limit.
- 4Fluoride<1% of 23,363 local wells tested were above the Vermont limit.
- 5Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
Test your Vermont well for nitrate, arsenic and uranium
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. Certification Programs for Other Labs from Vermont Department of Health lists every lab certified for drinking water in Vermont. Call ahead: some take walk-in samples, some ship bottles.
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory sells the Homeowner Testing Package online or by phone, made up of a bacteria kit (Kit A) at $14, an inorganic chemicals kit (Kit C) at $100, and a gross alpha radiation kit (Kit RA) at $45. Details from the state
Free or low-cost testing: Vermont households on a private well or spring can join the Health Department Lab's radon in water study to receive free radon test kits, while a limited number of tests are available. How to get it
For questions about your well, Drinking Water at Vermont Department of Health 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rutland County | Arsenic | 13% |
| Orleans County | Uranium | 6% |
| Chittenden County | Arsenic | 4% |
| Lamoille County | Arsenic | 3% |
| Orange County | Arsenic | 3% |
| Franklin County | Arsenic | 3% |
| Bennington County | Arsenic | 3% |
| Addison County | Arsenic | 2% |
| Windham County | Arsenic | 1% |
| Caledonia County | Arsenic | 1% |
| Washington County | Arsenic | 1% |
| Windsor County | Arsenic | 1% |
| Grand Isle County | Nitrate | <1% |
| Essex 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 Vermont
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 Vermont?
Start with nitrate, arsenic, uranium. 3% of 286 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 Vermont?
Use a lab certified for drinking water. Vermont Department of Health 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 Vermont?
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 Vermont Department of Health Laboratory sells the Homeowner Testing Package online or by phone, made up of a bacteria kit (Kit A) at $14, an inorganic chemicals kit (Kit C) at $100, and a gross alpha radiation kit (Kit RA) at $45.
Is there free well water testing in Vermont?
Vermont households on a private well or spring can join the Health Department Lab's radon in water study to receive free radon test kits, while a limited number of tests are available.
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.