Your county health department
District of Columbia doesn't run a statewide free testing program that we know of. Some county health departments still test wells or sell kits, so call yours first.
Getting your well water tested in District of Columbia
Use a lab District of Columbia certifies, or a mail-in kit. Across the state, the ones worth testing for are manganese, plus bacteria and nitrate every year.
Three ways to get tested, cheapest first.
A lab District of Columbia certifies
The state's list of labs certified for drinking water. Many sell bottles you pick up or get by mail, and their results count for a home sale or loan.
How to find a certified labA mail-in kit
Order online, fill the bottles at your kitchen tap and get results by email in about a week. Full well tests run about $210 to $220.
Compare kits for District of ColumbiaWhat turns up in District of Columbia wells.
Share of tested wells over the limit, from lab tests the USGS, EPA and state agencies collected since 2000. Your own well needs its own test.
Manganese50%19 of 38Arsenic5%2 of 44Nitrate3%1 of 38Uranium0%0 of 31Lead0%0 of 31Fluoride0%0 of 38
GermsTest every year, whatever the chart says
Coliform bacteria100%2 of 2StainsNot a health risk
Iron stains53%20 of 38
Rare: under 5%Worth checking: 5 to 15%Widespread: 15%+
Lab results: Water Quality Portal (USGS and EPA)
Find your county.
1 county has a full report with local test results and well depths.
No full report for that county yet. The statewide results above still apply, and so do the three ways to get tested.
Every county in District of Columbia: people on wells and typical depth
| County | People on private wells | Share of residents | Typical well depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia County | 0 | 0% | – |
Questions people ask about well water in District of Columbia
Does District of Columbia require private wells to be tested?
District of Columbia doesn't require routine testing of existing private wells. Keeping a well safe is up to the owner, so test for bacteria and nitrate every year.
Where can I get my well water tested in District of Columbia?
Otherwise, use a lab certified by District of Columbia for drinking water. The state's list is linked on this page.
Where these numbers come from
- How many people use wells: EPA estimates from the 2020 Census.
- Lab tests: Water Quality Portal (USGS and EPA), well samples since 2000.
- State programs and links: Department of Energy and Environment.