FHA, VA and USDA Loan Well Water Test Requirements
Short answer: FHA, VA and USDA loans all point to the same rule first: the well water has to meet whatever your local or state health authority requires, and if that authority has no standard, EPA drinking water limits apply. The differences are who may take the sample and how old the report can be. Checked against the agency handbooks on October 30, 2026.
The three loan programs side by side
| Loan | Standard the water must meet | Who tests | How old the report can be |
|---|---|---|---|
| FHA (HUD Handbook 4000.1) | Your local or state health authority's requirements; EPA limits in 40 CFR 141 and 142 where none exist | HUD guidance says a test isn't automatic: it's needed when state or local rules require it, when contamination is suspected, or when the lender asks | Set by the health authority or lender |
| VA (Lenders Handbook, Chapter 12, Topic 16) | Local health authority, then EPA guidelines | A disinterested third party must collect and transport the sample: the health authority, a commercial lab, a licensed sanitary engineer or another party it accepts. Never the buyer. | 90 days from the date certified by the local health authority, unless it says otherwise |
| USDA (HB-1-3555, Chapter 12.6) | State or local authority, then EPA maximum contaminant levels | The local health authority or a state-certified laboratory | No more than 180 days old at closing; a new report may be required after a spill or natural disaster |
Sources: HUD reference guide, individual water systems, VA Circular 26-17-19, USDA HB-1-3555 Chapter 12. Your lender may add its own conditions.
What gets tested
None of the three handbooks lists one national panel. In practice, the health authority's list decides it. Where there is no local list, a sensible starting point is the CDC's yearly private-well panel: total coliform bacteria, nitrate, total dissolved solids and pH (CDC). Ask the lender or loan officer for the exact list in writing before you order the test, so you don't pay twice.
Steps that keep a closing on schedule
- Ask the lender which tests and which report age it needs.
- Call your county or state health department: some collect loan samples themselves.
- Pick a lab certified for those tests on your state page. Certification is per test, so check each one.
- For a VA loan, book a third party to collect the sample. For any loan, bacteria samples must reach the lab fast (see mail-in vs drop-off).
- If a result is over a limit, the health department can explain the next steps; treatment and a retest are common before closing.
Questions
Can I collect my own well water sample for a VA loan?
No. VA requires a disinterested third party to collect and transport the sample, such as the local health authority, a commercial lab or a licensed sanitary engineer.
How old can a well water test be for a USDA loan?
USDA HB-1-3555 says the water analysis report can be no more than 180 days old at closing. VA results are valid for 90 days unless the local health authority says otherwise.
Does FHA require a well water test?
Not automatically. HUD guidance says a test is needed when state or local rules require it, when contamination is suspected, or when the lender asks. The water must meet the local or state health authority's requirements, or EPA limits where none exist.
Free well water safety checklist
15 family-friendly steps based on CDC and EPA guidance. Print it, keep it on the fridge, and know when to call a certified lab.
More guides
- Mail-In vs Drop-Off Well Water Testing: Which to ChooseThe 30-hour bacteria clock, and which tests travel well by mail.
- How Much Does Well Water Testing Cost? Real Lab PricesReal published prices from public labs, free programs, and the EPA-approved-lab myth.
- Testing Tap, Spring, Lake, River or Pond WaterTap, spring, lake, river and pond water: where to test, and why pools and aquariums are different.
- Well Water After a Flood, Hurricane, Wildfire or EarthquakeDon't drink it until it's tested: disaster-by-disaster testing steps from CDC, EPA and Health Canada.