Is Well Water Safe to Drink?

That depends on the well, and checking is the owner's job. The EPA says private wells are not regulated by EPA or required to follow its standards, and the CDC says tap water from private wells is not regulated, treated or monitored by officials, so owners are responsible for making sure their well water is safe to drink.

The CDC and the EPA both advise testing a private well at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. The CDC says that if the total coliform count is high, it is likely that harmful germs, including certain viruses, bacteria and parasites, are also in the water.

Other tests depend on where you live. The CDC says well owners should ask their health or environmental department, or the EPA, whether to also test for volatile organic compounds, lead, arsenic, mercury, radium, pesticides or herbicides, and other chemicals or specific germs, and the EPA says to test for any other contaminants you suspect are present.

Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.

The sources behind this answer

  • Regulatory filingThe EPA says private wells are not regulated by EPA or required to follow EPA's standards. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe CDC says water from private wells is not regulated, treated or monitored by officials, and that owners are responsible for making sure their well water is safe to drink. CDC ↗
  • Government sourceThe CDC advises testing well water at least once every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH level. CDC ↗
  • Government sourceThe EPA advises testing a private well annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and testing for other contaminants you suspect. US EPA ↗
  • Government sourceThe CDC says that if the total coliform count in well water is high, it is likely that harmful germs, including certain viruses, bacteria and parasites, are also present. CDC ↗
  • Government sourceThe CDC says well owners should ask their health or environmental department or the EPA whether to also test for VOCs, lead, arsenic, mercury, radium, pesticides or other chemicals. CDC ↗

Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.

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