It is important to test your private well or spring for contaminants regularly to make sure that it is safe to drink. If you are on public water, the Health Department recommends testing for lead. Learn about testing recommendations for public water
The Health Department recommends testing your water for bacteria, inorganic chemicals and gross alpha radiation. See the table below for more information on these drinking water contaminants.
The three test kits are called the Vermont Homeowner Testing Package:
If you divide this cost over the course of 5 years, it would equal $3.60 per month.
Order the Vermont Homeowner Testing Package by calling:
You can also order a test for an individual contaminant, such as lead. Find out more about testing options at the Health Department Laboratory
This table gives you an overview of the contaminants that are tested for in the Vermont Homeowner Testing Package, which are the Health Department's recommendations for private drinking water.
Click on the link for each contaminant for more detailed information on health concerns, sources of the contaminant, what your test results mean, and treatment options.
There are other drinking water contaminants you may want to test for. Learn more about other concerns for private drinking water
Contaminant | When to Test | Why You Should Test | Possible Cause(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coliform Bacteria (Kit A) | Every year | Stomachaches, diarrhea, GI (gastrointestinal) diseases | Surface water intrusion, septic leachate, agriculture runoff |
| Arsenic (Kit C) | Every five years | Increases risk of bladder, lung or skin cancer | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Chloride (Kit C) | Every five years | Chloride may indicate other contaminants are present in the water | Septic leachate, road salt |
| Copper (flush) (Kit C) | Every five years | Stomachaches, vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage in young children | Leaches from plumbing and fixtures due to corrosive water |
| Fluoride (Kit C) | Every five years | Fluoride levels above 4 mg/L can cause bone disease. Fluoride levels above 2 mg/L can cause staining or pitting of teeth. Optimal fluoride levels of 0.7 mg/L prevent tooth decay. | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Hardness (Kit C) | Every five years | Causes scale buildup in pipes and fixtures, gray staining of washed clothes | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Iron (Kit C) | Every five years | Unpleasant odors, stains and tastes | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Lead (first draw and flush) (Kit C) | Every five years | Damage to brain, kidneys and nervous system | Leaches from plumbing and fixtures due to corrosive water |
| Manganese (Kit C) | Every five years | Damage to the nervous system (memory, attention and motor skills) when consumed over a long period of time, infants may develop learning and behavior problems | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Nitrate/Nitrite (Kit C) | Every five years. If present above 5 mg/L: Every 3-6 months | Methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) in infants | Fertilized agricultural fields, septic leachate, compost piles |
| Sodium (Kit C) | Every five years | Sodium may indicate other contaminants are present in the water, can be harmful to those on limited sodium diets | Septic leachate, road salt, water softeners |
| Gross Alpha Radiation (Kit RA) | Every five years | Cancer risk | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Uranium (Kit C) | Every five years | Kidney damage | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
There are some contaminants in the table below that are not on a recommended schedule for testing by the Health Department, but may be a concern to you.
Click on the link for each contaminant for more detailed information on health concerns, sources of the contaminant, what your test results mean, and treatment options.
Contaminant | How to test | Why You Should Test | Possible Cause(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell) | Isolate the source of the smell | Gas in the air can be hazardous at high levels, can indicate sewage or other pollution intrusion in drinking water | Naturally occurring in some soil and rock as a byproduct of decay, produced by sulfur bacteria in the water system, water pollution (in rare cases) |
| PFAS (including PFOA) | Private labs can test for PFAS | Child development, infertility, increased cancer risk, and interference with hormones, the immune system and cholesterol levels | Chemicals used in industry and commercial products |
| Radon | Vermont Dept of Health Lab Kit RC (Learn more about testing for radon in air) | Stomach cancer, lung cancer | Naturally occurring in some bedrock and soils in Vermont |
| Organic Chemicals (volatile, synthetic, pesticides) | Vermont Dept of Health Lab Kit OL or Kit OA | Cancer, cardiovascular problems, reproductive issues, liver problems | Chemicals from human activities including agriculture, chemical spills, manufacturing sites |
Testing Drinking Water from Your Private Well: العربية (Arabic) | မြန်မာစာ (Burmese) | دری (Dari) | English | Français (French) | Kirundi | नेपाली (Nepali)| پښتو (Pashto)| Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish)
Well Water Testing: A Home Buyer's Guide: العربية (Arabic) | မြန်မာစာ (Burmese) | دری (Dari) | English | Français (French) | Kirundi | नेपाली (Nepali)| پښتو (Pashto)| Soomaali (Somali) | Español (Spanish)
