Your county health department
Vermont 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.
Department of Health: private well testingGetting your well water tested in Vermont
Use a lab Vermont certifies, or a mail-in kit. Across the state, the ones worth testing for are manganese, plus bacteria and nitrate every year.
About 326,000 people in Vermont get their water from a private well, about 5 in 10 residents.
Three ways to get tested, cheapest first.
A lab Vermont 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 VermontA 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 Vermont
Buying a house or drilling a new well in Vermont?
Vermont law requires landowners to test the water from a new or deepened well or spring for 14 contaminants before using it; testing is not required at home sale, but sellers must give buyers an informational guide on testing.
What turns up in Vermont 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.
Manganese20%3 of 15Arsenic0%0 of 15Uranium0%0 of 15Lead0%0 of 15
GermsTest every year, whatever the chart says
Coliform bacteria40%2 of 5StainsNot a health risk
Iron stains20%3 of 15
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 Vermont: people on wells and typical depth
| County | People on private wells | Share of residents | Typical well depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chittenden County | 43,177 | 26% | 320 ft |
| Windsor County | 36,966 | 64% | 275 ft |
| Rutland County | 32,479 | 54% | 285 ft |
| Washington County | 30,390 | 51% | 223 ft |
| Windham County | 29,877 | 65% | 255 ft |
| Franklin County | 28,418 | 57% | 300 ft |
| Bennington County | 22,957 | 61% | 250 ft |
| Addison County | 22,896 | 61% | 300 ft |
| Orange County | 21,805 | 74% | 260 ft |
| Caledonia County | 17,353 | 57% | 240 ft |
| Lamoille County | 16,607 | 64% | 224 ft |
| Orleans County | 16,102 | 59% | 229 ft |
| Essex County | 3,740 | 63% | 220 ft |
| Grand Isle County | 3,591 | 49% | 235 ft |
Questions people ask about well water in Vermont
Does Vermont require private wells to be tested?
Vermont law requires landowners to test the water from a new or deepened well or spring for 14 contaminants before using it; testing is not required at home sale, but sellers must give buyers an informational guide on testing.
Where can I get my well water tested in Vermont?
Otherwise, use a lab certified by Vermont 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 Health.