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Is your family's well water safe this year?
Get the free Well Water Safety Checklist — 15 simple steps based on CDC and EPA guidance — so you know when to test, what red flags to watch for, and how to protect kids and babies on private well water.
- Yearly testing reminders for bacteria, nitrates, TDS, and pH
- Red-flag moments (floods, new baby, taste/odor changes, nearby farms or septic)
- Wellhead check so you catch a cracked cap or standing water before it becomes a problem
- Links to state-certified labs on Find a Well Lab — no hard sell, just the next step
- Got results? Read what your results mean
Download the free PDF Find a lab by state
Free PDF · No credit card · No email signup needed right now. Print it and keep it on the fridge.
What's inside (15 items)
- Confirm your well is private (not a public system) and note the well ID if you have one.
- Test yearly for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH (EPA/CDC baseline).
- Test sooner after floods, well work, nearby construction, or taste/odor/color changes.
- If a baby is on the way or formula is mixed with well water, prioritize nitrate testing.
- Ask for a state-certified drinking-water lab — home strips are fine for curiosity, not health decisions.
- Walk the wellhead: look for a cracked or loose cap, standing water, or chemicals stored nearby.
- Keep septic systems maintained and note distance from the well.
- If you are near farms, ask about nitrate and pesticide panels common in your county.
- If plumbing is old, ask about lead and copper sampling (first-draw rules matter).
- If PFAS is in local news or you are near airports/industry, ask the lab about PFAS options.
- Collect samples exactly as the lab instructs — bacteria samples have short hold times.
- Write results on the checklist and keep reports with your home papers.
- If a result exceeds a health standard, contact your local health department and retest to confirm.
- Do not boil water to “fix” nitrate — boiling concentrates it.
- Set a calendar reminder for next year’s basic panel.
Ready for the next step?
Find a state-certified lab and call for sample bottles. Private wells aren’t monitored like city water — a yearly test is the simple habit that protects your family.
Browse labs by state What your results mean Read family guides
Disclaimer: This checklist is for general information only. It is not medical or legal advice. For interpreting lab results, contact your clinician and local health department.