Well water testing in Allegan County, MI
Allegan County sends well owners to certified labs. Kalamazoo County's lab tests private wells: bacteria $22, nitrate $22, drop-off Monday to Thursday on ice. The state lab in Lansing tests too: bacteria $23, nitrate and nitrite $41.
- Bacteria test
- $22
- Sample
- You take the sample
Checked Nov 7, 2026 · All 6 sources
Where to get your well tested
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Laboratory
For: Private well owners (the lab says it tests samples from private homeowners' wells)
Checked Nov 7, 2026 on kalcounty.gov
| Drinking water bacteria (total coliform and E. coli)coliform bacteria and E. coliFees can change. Call 269-373-5360 for the current price. | $22 |
| Nitrate (well water)nitrate | $22 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Pick up a bottle and request form at the lab, or at one of 12 Kalamazoo County township offices. Print the form from the lab's web page if you like. Use a separate form for each sample.
- KCHCS Laboratory, 311 E. Alcott St., Kalamazoo
- Cooper, Texas, Schoolcraft, Oshtemo, Alamo, Kalamazoo, Comstock, Charleston, Pavilion, Climax, Brady and Richland township offices
- Returning the sample
- Bring the sample and the form to the lab on ice or cold packs. Samples not kept cold are not accepted. Pay the fee at Kalamazoo County Environmental Health.
- Drop-off hours
- Monday to Thursday, 8am to 4pm
- Time limit
- The lab must run a bacteria sample within 30 hours of when you take it, and a nitrate sample within 48 hours.
- Good to know
- The lab is in Kalamazoo County. Drop-off is Monday to Thursday only.
- Address
- 311 E. Alcott St., Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Environmental Health Division (pay for tests here): 269-373-5210
Michigan EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory (state lab)
Checked Nov 7, 2026 on michigan.gov
| Total coliform and E. colicoliform bacteria and E. coli | $23 |
| Sample preparation feeAdded once per sample for metals, hardness, partial chemistry and some other tests. | $13 |
| ArsenicarsenicPlus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $15 |
| UraniumuraniumPlus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $15 |
All 14 tests and prices
| Lead and copperlead and copperPlus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $30 |
| HardnesshardnessCalcium, magnesium and calculated hardness. Plus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $30 |
| Nitrate and nitritenitrate and nitrite | $41 |
| Partial chemistryCalcium, chloride, fluoride, hardness, iron, magnesium, nitrate, nitrite, sodium and sulfate. Plus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $66 |
| Partial metalsarsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese and other itemsArsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese and zinc. Plus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $81 |
| Complete metalsarsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese and other itemsAntimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, thallium and zinc. Plus a $13 sample preparation fee per sample. | $136 |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)VOCs | $147 |
| 1,4-Dioxaneother items | $169 |
| Pesticides and aromatic compoundspesticides | $183 |
| PFASPFAS | $320 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Call the lab to order a test kit. You can have it shipped to your home, or pick it up at the lab in Lansing at a time you book. Allow about a week for the order, plus shipping. Use only the lab's bottles.
- EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory, 3350 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing
- Returning the sample
- Fill out the form completely; samples with incomplete forms are rejected. Ship the sample overnight (UPS Next Day Air, USPS Priority Mail Express or FedEx Priority Overnight) on the same day you take it, Monday to Wednesday only. Or bring it to the lab in Lansing; call first to book a drop-off time. Bacteria samples are not accepted on Fridays.
- Drop-off hours
- Monday to Thursday, 8am to 4:30pm; Friday, 8am to 3pm (by appointment only; no bacteria samples on Fridays)
- Time limit
- The sample must reach the lab within 24 hours of when you take it, so ship it the same day.
- By mail
- Yes, samples can be mailed.
- Results in
- Up to 10 business days after the lab gets the sample, plus mailing time.
- How you get results
- Results are mailed, and emailed if you give an email address. A copy also goes to your county health department, which can help explain them.
- Good to know
- The lab does not explain results. Call your county health department for help with what they mean.
- Address
- 3350 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906
Microbiology scheduling (special bacteria tests): 517-335-9814
Free and lower-cost testing
Free well water test kits (State of Michigan, 2023)
Who qualifies: Michigan residents with a private well
Free test kits for coliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, metals and other common contaminants. The $5 million fund ran out within a week of opening in September 2023.
Program pageWhat the health department recommends
The Allegan County Health Department points to the CDC advice: test your well every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates and pH. Michigan also recommends nitrite every year and arsenic every 3 to 5 years.
This is the county or state health agency's own advice, not ours.
Rules that apply
- In Michigan, a new well must be tested when it is first put in. After that, testing is up to the well owner.
- In Allegan County, a new well must be tested for coliform bacteria, E. coli and nitrate. The sanitarian may ask for more tests, such as VOCs or metals, near known contamination.
Allegan County Health Department does not list its own well testing. Its page says routine nitrate and bacteria tests can be done at local labs, and links to the state's list of certified labs.
Well testing in Allegan County: quick answers
How much does well water testing cost in Allegan County?
Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Laboratory charges $22 for "Drinking water bacteria (total coliform and E. coli)". Fees can change. Call 269-373-5360 for the current price. Prices are from the provider's own fee list, checked Nov 7, 2026.
Who tests well water in Allegan County?
Allegan County does not run its own well water testing. Residents can use Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Laboratory, Michigan EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory (state lab).
How do I get a sample bottle in Allegan County?
Pick up a bottle and request form at the lab, or at one of 12 Kalamazoo County township offices. Print the form from the lab's web page if you like. Use a separate form for each sample.
How quickly does the sample need to reach the lab?
The lab must run a bacteria sample within 30 hours of when you take it, and a nitrate sample within 48 hours.
Where this comes from
We read these 6 pages on Nov 7, 2026. Fees and hours change, so call before you take a sample.
- Groundwater educationallegancounty.org · Web page
- HCS Laboratorykalcounty.gov · Web page
- kalcounty.govPDF
- Water Testing Fee Schedulemichigan.gov · PDF
Show 2 more
- Private well testingmichigan.gov · Web page
- Drinking watermichigan.gov · Web page
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