Well water testing in Wake County, NC
Wake County tests private well water. A bacteria test is $25 if you take the sample yourself: get a bottle at the county Water Quality Lab or a regional center, then drop it at the lab in Raleigh, weekdays 9am to 4pm. Most other tests need a staff visit, which adds $50.
- Bacteria test
- $25
- Sample
- You or staff take the sample
Where to get your well tested
Wake County Onsite Water Protection, Groundwater Protection and Wells (Water Quality Lab)
For: Owners and renters whose drinking water comes from a private well
| Coliform bacteriacoliform bacteria and E. coliYou can take this sample yourself. Add the $50 trip fee if county staff take the sample. | $25 |
| Single inorganic testOne item from the inorganic panel. You can take this sample yourself. Add the $50 trip fee if county staff take the sample. | $20 |
| Iron / sedimentiron and other itemsYou can take this sample yourself. Add the $50 trip fee if county staff take the sample. | $20 |
| Nitrate / nitritenitrate and nitriteYou can take this sample yourself. Add the $50 trip fee if county staff take the sample. | $25 |
All 17 tests and prices
| UraniumuraniumCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $40 |
| Full Inorganic PanelYou can take this sample yourself. Add the $50 trip fee if county staff take the sample. | $50 |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)VOCsCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| PesticidespesticidesCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| Herbicidesother itemsCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| Gross alpha and beta radiationother itemsCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| Radon in waterradonCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| Iron bacteriaother itemsCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| Sulfur bacteriaother itemsCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $50 |
| Staff sampling visit (trip fee)Charged any time county staff come to take samples. | $50 |
| Rads Packageradon, uranium and other itemsGross alpha and beta, radon in water, uranium, and a radon-in-air test kit. County staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $140 |
| First Timer's PackageBacteria, full inorganic panel, VOCs and pesticides. County staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $175 |
| Radium 226 and 228other itemsCounty staff must take this sample, so the $50 trip fee also applies. | $175 |
- Who takes the sample
- You or staff take the sample. Staff visit: $50
- Getting a bottle
- For a bacteria or inorganics test you take yourself, pick up bottles and instructions at the Wake County Water Quality Lab, a Wake County regional center, or the Wake County Office Building in Raleigh. For all other tests, order on the Wake County Permit Portal under "Well Water Sampling – Existing Well." Staff will invoice you, then call to set a day to take the samples.
- Wake County Water Quality Lab, 200 Swinburne St., Raleigh
- Eastern Regional Center, Zebulon
- Northern Regional Center, Wake Forest
- Southern Regional Center, Fuquay-Varina
- Waverly F. Akins Wake County Office Building, Raleigh
- Returning the sample
- Bring your sample and payment to the Wake County Water Quality Lab, 200 Swinburne St., Raleigh (second floor, room 2051). The lab does not take bacteria samples the day before a holiday. Questions: call the lab at 919-250-4437.
- Drop-off hours
- Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
- Results in
- Bacteria results are usually ready within 48 hours. Other tests can take 2 to 4 weeks.
- Address
- 200 Swinburne St., Raleigh, NC 27610
Free and lower-cost testing
Income-based well testing fee reduction
Who qualifies: Wake County households with income up to 2.5 times the federal poverty level (for example, up to $82,500 a year for a family of four)
The county's recommended well tests (bacteria, inorganics, VOCs, pesticides, radiation, uranium and radon in water) for $73 if your income is below the poverty level, or $182.50 if it is up to 2.5 times the poverty level. The full price is $365. You mail a request form, a notarized affidavit and a check or money order to Wake County Onsite Water Protection, P.O. Box 550, Raleigh NC 27602. Wake County regional centers notarize for free.
Program pageWhat the health department recommends
Test for bacteria every year. If you have never tested, or your last test was more than five years ago, get the First Timer's Package (bacteria, inorganics, VOCs and pesticides). If you live in the affected parts of eastern Wake County, also get the Rads Package. If nothing was found, repeat the other tests about every five years. If something was found, test for it more often.
This is the county or state health agency's own advice, not ours.
Rules that apply
- In North Carolina, every new private well must be tested for bacteria and chemicals within 30 days after it is finished. The local health department or a certified lab takes the samples.
- In Wake County, a well that serves a new home must be tested and meet water quality standards before the home can get a certificate of occupancy.
- After a well is approved, testing it is up to the owner. Wake County does not require regular tests of existing wells.
Wake County does not test for PFAS. For PFAS, use a lab certified by the N.C. Division of Public Health. If you pay a water bill, you are on a public water system that already tests your water.
Well testing in Wake County: quick answers
How much does well water testing cost in Wake County?
Wake County Onsite Water Protection, Groundwater Protection and Wells (Water Quality Lab) charges $25 for "Coliform bacteria". You can take this sample yourself. Add the $50 trip fee if county staff take the sample. A staff visit to take the sample costs $50. Prices are from the provider's own fee list, checked Oct 13, 2026.
Who tests well water in Wake County?
Wake County Onsite Water Protection, Groundwater Protection and Wells (Water Quality Lab) tests private wells for residents.
How do I get a sample bottle in Wake County?
For a bacteria or inorganics test you take yourself, pick up bottles and instructions at the Wake County Water Quality Lab, a Wake County regional center, or the Wake County Office Building in Raleigh. For all other tests, order on the Wake County Permit Portal under "Well Water Sampling – Existing Well." Staff will invoice you, then call to set a day to take the samples.
Checked Oct 13, 2026 against the provider's own pages. Fees and hours change, so call before you take a sample. Something wrong? corrections@wellwatertestfinder.com
Sources (20)
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/groundwater-protection-and-wells/well-water-testing
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/groundwater-protection-and-wells/well-water-testing/available-well-water-tests-and-fees
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/wake-county-water-quality-lab
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/septic-systems/programs-help-your-septic-repairs-well-repairs-water-treatment-well-testing
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/groundwater-protection-and-wells/pfas-information
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/groundwater-protection-and-wells/well-water-testing/naturally-occurring-contamination
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/groundwater-protection-and-wells/well-ownership-realtors-and-lenders
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection
- wake.gov/departments-government/onsite-water-protection/groundwater-protection-and-wells
- wake.gov/departments-government/health-human-services/health-human-services-locations/eastern-regional-center
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- wake.gov/departments-government/health-human-services/health-human-services-locations/southern-regional-center
- wake.gov/waverly-f-akins-wake-county-office-building
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- s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wakegov.com.if-us-west-1/s3fs-public/documents/2020-10/L5 - Permit Portal - Requesting Well Water Testing.pdf
- s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wakegov.com.if-us-west-1/s3fs-public/documents/2026-03/Affidavit for Discounted Well Testing - English - 2026.pdf
- deq.nc.gov/pfas-treatment-system-assistance-program
- epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oee/wellwater/faqs.html
- ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/oswp/docs/3800-Rules.pdf
- slphreporting.dph.ncdhhs.gov/Certification/CertifiedLaboratory.asp