Testing
How to test your tap water
When a test is worth it
You're on a private well
Wells aren't covered by EPA rules — owners are responsible. Test at least once a year for bacteria, nitrate, and pH, plus anything common in your area.
An infant or pregnancy is in the home
Nitrate and lead are the priority. Nitrate is especially dangerous for babies under six months ('blue baby syndrome').
Your home has lead pipes or pre-1986 plumbing
Lead leaches from pipes and solder between the main and your tap, so a utility's results may not reflect your faucet.
The water looks, smells, or tastes different
New color, odor, or a metallic taste is a reason to test — though clear water can still contain odorless contaminants like PFAS, lead, or arsenic.
You got a boil-water or violation notice
Follow the notice first; once it's lifted, a test can confirm the issue resolved.
You're buying a home
A pre-purchase test (especially on a well) tells you what you're inheriting.
What to test for
Three ways to test
State-certified lab
Best for: Results you'll act on — buying a filter, a real-estate deal, or a health concern.
- ✓Accredited methods the EPA recognizes
- ✓Detects low levels strips can't
- ✓Defensible for disputes or disclosures
- –Costs more per analyte
- –Turnaround of days to weeks
- –You collect and ship the sample carefully
Mail-in test kit
Best for: A broad first look at home, often using a certified lab behind the scenes.
- ✓Convenient, broad panels
- ✓Often lab-analyzed (check before buying)
- ✓Good for screening many contaminants at once
- –Quality varies — confirm the lab is certified
- –Per-test cost adds up
- –Sampling errors can skew results
At-home strips & meters
Best for: Quick, rough checks of hardness, chlorine, or pH — not health decisions.
- ✓Cheap and instant
- ✓Fine for taste/odor curiosity
- –Not reliable for lead, PFAS, arsenic, or nitrate
- –No certified documentation
- –Easy to misread
Cost. A single certified-lab analyte often runs $20–$80; broad mail-in panels are roughly $150–$650 depending on how many contaminants they cover. Many states and counties offer free or low-cost well-testing programs — ask your local health department first.
Find a certified lab & official guidance
- Find your state's certified labs (EPA) ↗
Each state certifies the labs allowed to run official drinking-water tests. Start here to find one near you.
- Private wells (EPA) ↗
If you're on a private well, no one tests it for you — this covers what to check and how often.
- Testing well water (CDC) ↗
CDC's guidance on what to test for and when, especially for wells.
- Drinking water safety (CDC) ↗
Plain-language overview of drinking-water safety and contaminants.
- What the limits mean (EPA NPDWR) ↗
The federal legal limits a certified lab compares your results against.
- Your utility's annual report (EPA CCR) ↗
Public water systems publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report — read it before paying for a test.
Testing in your state
What's worth testing for where you live, with your state's reported PFAS and lead findings.
PurityRadar is independent and doesn't sell or earn commissions on tests or kits. For results you'll act on, use a state-certified laboratory and confirm anything concerning with your utility or local health department.