Well water testing in Jackson County, MI
Jackson County does not test well water or hand out bottles. The state lab in Lansing tests it: bacteria is $23, nitrate and nitrite $41. Call 517-335-8184 for a kit, then drop the sample off in Lansing or ship it overnight, Monday to Wednesday.
- Bacteria test
- $23
- Sample
- You take the sample
Jackson County does not test well water itself. The labs below take samples from its residents.
Checked Nov 7, 2026 · All 6 sources
Where to get your well tested
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 state recommends testing your well for coliform bacteria and nitrates every year. The Michigan health department also recommends testing for nitrite every year and for 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 Jackson County, a new well needs a safe coliform bacteria test from a state-certified lab before it is approved.
- Jackson County does not require well testing when a home is sold.
The Jackson County Health Department does not have a lab. It also stopped handing out sample bottles. Call its Environmental Health office with questions about your results.
Well testing in Jackson County: quick answers
How much does well water testing cost in Jackson County?
Michigan EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory (state lab) charges $23 for "Total coliform and E. coli". Prices are from the provider's own fee list, checked Nov 7, 2026.
Who tests well water in Jackson County?
Jackson County does not run its own well water testing. Residents can use Michigan EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory (state lab).
How do I get a sample bottle in Jackson County?
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.
How quickly does the sample need to reach the lab?
The sample must reach the lab within 24 hours of when you take it, so ship it the same day.
Where this comes from
We read these 6 pages on Nov 7, 2026. Fees and hours change, so call before you take a sample.
- Water Testingco.jackson.mi.us · Web page
- Well Septic Informationco.jackson.mi.us · Web page
- Permits Well Septicco.jackson.mi.us · Web page
- Water Testing Fee Schedulemichigan.gov · PDF
Show 2 more
- Private well testingmichigan.gov · Web page
- Drinking watermichigan.gov · Web page
Something wrong? Send a correction.