Free and Low-Cost Well Water Testing Clinics (2026 Calendar)
Short answer: extension offices and health departments run well water screening events at low or no cost. Below are upcoming dates we found on official pages, plus year-round programs. Dates and prices change, so confirm with the organizer before you go. Last verified October 30, 2026.
Upcoming clinics (November–December 2026)
| Date | Where | Cost | What's screened | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 9, 2026, 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Major County OSU Extension, 808 E Highland St, Fairview, OK | $15 a sample | Nitrate, total dissolved solids, pH, E. coli | Oklahoma Well Owner Network (OSU) |
| Nov 18, 2026 (drop-off 8:30–11 a.m.); results meeting Nov 19, 9 a.m. | Blanco County AgriLife Extension (Johnson City), Hays County AgriLife Extension (Wimberley) or Blanco-Pedernales GCD office (Johnson City), TX | $15 a sample | Fecal coliform/E. coli, nitrate, salinity | Texas Well Owner Network "Well Informed" flyer |
| Nov 23–26, 2026, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | Cass County Conservation District, 1127 East State Street, Cassopolis, MI (Cass County residents; see Michigan certified labs) | Free | Not listed on the event page; ask the district office, (269) 445-8641, ext. 5 | Cass County Conservation District |
| Dec 8, 2026, 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Kingfisher County Fairgrounds, 300 S 13th Street, Kingfisher, OK (you don't need to live in Kingfisher County) | $15 a sample | Nitrate, total dissolved solids, pH, E. coli | Oklahoma Well Owner Network (OSU) |
Screening events are not the same as a full certified lab test. For a home sale, a loan or a broader panel, use a certified lab from your state page.
Year-round free or low-cost options
- Ontario: Public Health Ontario labs test private well water for E. coli and total coliforms for free (not chemicals or minerals). Local health units hand out bottles. Simcoe Muskoka notes that during the week of November 9, 2026 its offices take samples only on Monday, November 9 and Thursday, November 12. See Ontario.
- Oklahoma: if there's no event near you, OSU says your county Extension office can send a sample to the OSU Soil, Water and Forage Lab (about $18, no bacteria test), or you can use Oklahoma DEQ's bundled Private Well Annual Test ($75 for bacteria, nitrate, pH and conductivity). See Oklahoma.
- Texas: the Texas Well Owner Network posts upcoming screenings and trainings at twon.tamu.edu. See Texas.
- Virginia: the Virginia Household Water Quality Program runs county clinics. In 2026 the Piedmont Health District listed sample drop-off days on March 18 and September 2, with kits at $70 in Prince Edward County and a limited number of subsidized kits. New dates go on Virginia Tech's events page. See Virginia.
- Everywhere else: the EPA says your local health department may test private wells for free, so call them first. Published lab prices are in our testing cost guide.
How to get the most from a clinic
- Follow the organizer's sampling instructions exactly. The Texas flyer asks for a new, unused 12–20 ounce water bottle; Oklahoma says bacteria samples must be collected within 2 hours of the event.
- Bring a sample from every well you drink from, and from before and after any treatment system if you have one.
- Go to the results meeting if there is one, or use our results guide.
Sources
- Oklahoma State University: Oklahoma Well Owner Network, upcoming events (checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Well Informed screening flyer, November 18 and 19, 2026
- Cass County Conservation District (MI): Well Water Testing Blitz, November 2026
- Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit: Free drinking water testing
- Virginia Department of Health, Piedmont Health District: Well water testing clinics 2026
- EPA: Protect your home's water
Questions
Where can I get my well water tested for free?
Some programs are free: Public Health Ontario tests private well water for E. coli and total coliforms at no charge, and Cass County, Michigan lists a free well water testing blitz on November 23 to 26, 2026. Many U.S. extension clinics charge a small fee, such as $15 a sample in Oklahoma and Texas.
Is a screening clinic the same as a certified lab test?
Not always. Extension screenings check a few common items like bacteria, nitrate and salinity. For a loan, a real estate sale or a full panel, use a state-certified lab.
When are most well testing clinics held?
Many run in spring and fall. For example, Virginia's Piedmont Health District listed 2026 sample drop-off days on March 18 and September 2.
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
- FHA, VA and USDA Loan Well Water Test RequirementsLoan rules for well water tests, side by side, from HUD, VA and USDA handbooks.
- 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.