A megaphone and the word "Important".

State offices will not be accepting water samples for the drinking water courier on Thursday October 8th, Friday, October 9th, or Monday October 12th. 

The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory will be closed on Friday, October 9th, for professional development day and Monday October 12th, 2026, in observation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Samples will not be accepted on these days. Please plan your water testing accordingly.

child drinking water.

The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory provides water testing for public and private drinking water. Rental property owners, municipalities, people living on private water sources, owners of food and lodging businesses, and farm operators: use this page to find out what water testing kits you need.

The Lab also offers testing for environmental water, like swimming and irrigation water. Learn more about environmental water testing.

Water Testing by Source and Business Type

If you pay a water bill (public water)

If you pay a bill for your water, or your landlord or housing association pays a bill for your water, your water comes from a public water supply and utility. 

Visit the Public Drinking Water page for more information

If you use a well or spring (private water)

If you have a new well or spring: You are required to test your water before using it.Learn about testing requirements for newly drilled wells

If you have an existing well or spring: We recommend testing your water regularly for common contaminants. Learn more about testing your private drinking water

Need help understanding your test results? Visit the Water Treatment page for information about contaminants and treatment options

If you own rental property

Under Vermont’s Rental Housing Health Code, you must make sure tenants have safe drinking water. 

If your rental property uses a private well or spring, follow our recommended testing schedule

If you own a food or lodging business

If your food or lodging business has a private well or spring, you must test every year for Total Coliform and E. coli using a state-certified lab to analyze the sample. 

Watch the video to learn how to test for bacteria:

If you operate a farm or keep animals or livestock

If you operate a farm or keep animals or livestock, protect your health and the health of the animals by following the recommendations based on your water supply (see the public and private water supply information above). 

To test irrigation water, Kit AG is recommended. For more information on testing irrigation water:

Order drinking water test kits online 

Labs That Test Drinking Water

We can test your water, or you can go to another certified lab. View the list of laboratories that are certified for drinking water analysis. (For full functionality, open this list in Adobe. Some links will not work if this list is opened in a browser.)

See the list of laboratories that are certified to test for radium in drinking water.

Watch: How to Test Your Water (Video)

Questions?

Call the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory at 800-660-9997 or 802-338-4724

Last Updated: