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Getting your well water tested in Missouri

Missouri has free or low-cost well testing. Across the state, the ones worth testing for are manganese and arsenic, plus bacteria and nitrate every year.

Compare lab tests Find my county

About 1,232,000 people in Missouri get their water from a private well, about 2 in 10 residents.

Three ways to get tested, cheapest first.

2

A lab Missouri 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.

Labs certified by Missouri
3

A 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 Missouri

Look up a well's drilling report in Missouri

What turns up in Missouri 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.

Tested wells over the limit, statewide
Manganese29%92 of 314Arsenic16%51 of 314Lead2%7 of 314Nitrate1%5 of 408Uranium1%1 of 167Fluorideunder 1%1 of 393Radon0%0 of 47
GermsTest every year, whatever the chart says
Coliform bacteria14%7 of 49
StainsNot a health risk
Iron stains45%161 of 354

Rare: under 5%Worth checking: 5 to 15%Widespread: 15%+

Lab results: Water Quality Portal (USGS and EPA)

Where it shows up most

  • Nitrate shows up most in Barry County (about 1 in 18 wells).

Find your county.

5 counties have a full report with local test results and well depths.

BooneFranklinJacksonSt. CharlesSt. Francois
Every county in Missouri: people on wells and typical depth
CountyPeople on private wellsShare of residentsTypical well depth
Jefferson County72,24632%345 ft
Franklin County48,62146%306 ft
Greene County43,09514%468 ft
Newton County31,13553%445 ft
St. Charles County27,2027%540 ft
St. Louis County26,5243%426 ft
Camden County26,46662%270 ft
Christian County26,12829%525 ft
Jasper County24,58720%305 ft
Webster County23,18859%350 ft
Lincoln County23,15639%512 ft
Cole County22,29729%286 ft
Jackson County21,2143%104 ft
St. Francois County20,59431%287 ft
Boone County20,34811%485 ft
Howell County20,23251%340 ft
Phelps County18,48641%272 ft
Taney County18,02532%485 ft
Barry County17,64051%500 ft
Stone County17,41156%510 ft
Polk County17,21155%315 ft
Washington County16,85672%206 ft
Lawrence County16,25743%470 ft
Johnson County16,04130%475 ft
Miller County16,01965%254 ft
Callaway County15,49635%446 ft
Morgan County15,48974%250 ft
Butler County15,31736%230 ft
Cape Girardeau County14,89218%356 ft
Texas County14,64560%320 ft
Pettis County14,55034%310 ft
Warren County14,10240%500 ft
Laclede County13,69838%328 ft
Crawford County13,55059%270 ft
McDonald County13,22757%605 ft
Dallas County13,16477%300 ft
Cass County12,85112%347 ft
Pulaski County12,57223%320 ft
Benton County12,25163%250 ft
Wright County11,50163%360 ft
Scott County10,20927%254 ft
Stoddard County9,52733%157 ft
Ste. Genevieve County9,52352%282 ft
Dent County8,84061%310 ft
Douglas County8,71875%349 ft
Lafayette County8,68826%395 ft
Osage County8,66965%326 ft
Bollinger County8,47080%290 ft
Ray County7,91634%68 ft
Gasconade County7,75052%313 ft
Perry County7,52040%370 ft
Henry County7,34733%390 ft
Wayne County7,28366%240 ft
Ozark County7,26685%350 ft
Platte County7,2357%88 ft
Clay County7,1573%100 ft
Clinton County7,13834%60 ft
Cedar County7,08050%390 ft
Vernon County7,06736%436 ft
Ripley County6,82464%240 ft
Audrain County6,77427%609 ft
Buchanan County6,6468%47 ft
Moniteau County6,59743%287 ft
Hickory County6,49878%345 ft
Madison County6,42051%289 ft
Maries County6,41576%290 ft
Pike County6,39636%465 ft
Adair County6,29325%30 ft
Ralls County6,22960%232 ft
Bates County6,21039%450 ft
St. Clair County6,06565%315 ft
Macon County6,05940%28 ft
Nodaway County5,97828%50 ft
Cooper County5,82434%350 ft
Andrew County5,82032%45 ft
Randolph County5,82024%430 ft
Lewis County5,66957%205 ft
Oregon County5,59965%330 ft
Iron County5,48357%260 ft
Marion County5,34119%145 ft
Montgomery County5,12445%450 ft
Shannon County4,95871%390 ft
Saline County4,66420%415 ft
Dunklin County4,56616%100 ft
Reynolds County4,54775%295 ft
Dade County4,39158%405 ft
Barton County4,24236%552 ft
Monroe County4,14148%330 ft
Howard County4,03540%380 ft
Daviess County3,73044%66 ft
Caldwell County3,59041%50 ft
Clark County3,58254%120 ft
New Madrid County3,56122%90 ft
Carter County3,45166%228 ft
Livingston County3,37123%95 ft
Knox County3,35690%230 ft
Shelby County3,27754%134 ft
Pemiscot County3,16820%100 ft
Grundy County3,15432%59 ft
Chariton County3,07542%80 ft
Harrison County3,07138%40 ft
DeKalb County3,02627%49 ft
Mississippi County2,99724%80 ft
Carroll County2,94735%58 ft
Linn County2,68223%95 ft
Scotland County2,54354%114 ft
Schuyler County2,49462%41 ft
Putnam County2,40151%26 ft
Sullivan County2,25338%18 ft
Gentry County2,12935%40 ft
Mercer County2,03658%40 ft
Atchison County1,81734%65 ft
Holt County1,65339%75 ft
Worth County1,32667%42 ft
St. Louis city20under 1%28 ft

Questions people ask about well water in Missouri

Does Missouri require private wells to be tested?

Missouri 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 Missouri?

The State Public Health Laboratory tests private well water for bacteria for a $10 handling fee, with kits available through local public health agencies. Otherwise, use a lab certified by Missouri 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: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.