Well water testing in Lancaster County, PA
Lancaster County has no county health department that tests well water. Penn State's lab tests by mail: $60 for bacteria, pH and solids, or $70 with nitrate. Get a kit at an extension office; bacteria samples must reach the lab within 30 hours. DEP's Reading office sells bacteria kits.
- Bacteria test
- $40
- Bacteria + nitrate
- $60
- Sample
- You take the sample
Lancaster County does not test well water itself. The labs below take samples from its residents.
Where to get your well tested
Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (Drinking Water Testing)
| Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli)coliform bacteria and E. coliBacteria only. Call the lab for the smaller bacteria-only kit. | $40 |
| Standard (WD01)coliform bacteria, E. coli, pH and dissolved solidsTotal coliform and E. coli bacteria, pH and total dissolved solids. | $60 |
| Agriculture / Septic (WD04)coliform bacteria, E. coli, pH, dissolved solids and nitrateThe standard test plus nitrate. Suggested for wells near farms or septic systems. | $70 |
| Paper copy of the reportResults are emailed. Add $2 if you want a paper copy mailed. | $2 |
All 28 tests and prices
| Nitrate nitrogennitrate | $15 |
| Coppercopper | $15 |
| Ironiron | $15 |
| Manganesemanganese | $15 |
| Aluminumother items | $15 |
| Bariumother items | $15 |
| Chloridechloride | $15 |
| Sulfatesulfate | $15 |
| pHpH | $15 |
| Total dissolved solidsdissolved solids | $15 |
| Total suspended solidsother items | $15 |
| Conductivityother items | $15 |
| Hardnesshardness | $20 |
| Fluoridefluoride | $20 |
| Lead (running water)lead | $25 |
| Arsenicarsenic | $30 |
| Lead and copper, first drawlead and copperArrange with the lab before you sample. | $40 |
| Corrosivityother items | $45 |
| Gas / Oil Drilling (WD06)coliform bacteria, E. coli, pH, dissolved solids, chloride and other itemsThe standard test plus barium and chloride. To document water before or after gas drilling, the lab suggests a lab that collects the sample with full chain of custody. | $75 |
| Mining (WD05)coliform bacteria, E. coli, pH, dissolved solids, iron, manganese, sulfate and other itemsThe standard test plus aluminum, iron, manganese and sulfate. | $80 |
| Aesthetics / Corrosivity (WD02)The standard test plus hardness, alkalinity, corrosivity, copper, iron and manganese. | $85 |
| Aesthetics / Corrosivity plus Lead (WD03)WD02 plus first-draw and running-water lead and copper. | $125 |
| Trace (WD07)coliform bacteria, E. coli, pH, dissolved solids, arsenic, copper, lead and other itemsThe standard test plus arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. | $130 |
| Extensive (WD08)The lab's widest package: adds hardness, alkalinity, corrosivity, metals, sodium, chloride, sulfate and nitrate. | $220 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Get a Penn State Drinking Water Test Kit from a Penn State Extension county office. Many offices have them. The kit has a cooler, a shipping box, sample bottles, instructions and a form. For a bacteria-only test, call the lab for a smaller kit.
- Returning the sample
- Mail the kit to the lab by overnight mail, with the form and your payment (check to The Pennsylvania State University, or credit card on the form). The lab does not accept bacteria samples on a Friday.
- Time limit
- The lab must get the bacteria sample within 30 hours of when you take it. Keep it in the refrigerator until you send it.
- By mail
- Yes, samples can be mailed.
- Results in
- Usually 10 to 14 business days after the lab gets the sample.
- How you get results
- Results are emailed if you give an email address. A paper copy by mail costs $2 more.
- Address
- 720 Tower Rd., University Park, PA 16802
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Reading District Office
For: Residents of Berks and Lancaster counties
No prices published. Call for the current fees.
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Buy a bacteria test kit from the DEP Reading District Office. Call the office first to ask the price and when you can pick one up.
- DEP Reading District Office
- Returning the sample
- Ask the DEP office how and where to return the sample when you buy the kit.
- Good to know
- These kits test for bacteria only. For nitrate, lead or other chemicals, use a state-certified lab.
What the health department recommends
Test your well every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrate, total dissolved solids and pH. If you think something else may be in your water, test for that too. Always use a state-certified drinking water lab.
This is the county or state health agency's own advice, not ours.
Rules that apply
- Pennsylvania does not regulate private wells. Testing your well is up to you.
Other state-certified labs in Lancaster County can test well water. Call them for prices, or ask the DEP office for the state's list of certified labs.
Well testing in Lancaster County: quick answers
How much does well water testing cost in Lancaster County?
Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (Drinking Water Testing) charges $40 for "Bacteria (total coliform and E. coli)". Bacteria only. Call the lab for the smaller bacteria-only kit. Prices are from the provider's own fee list, checked Oct 13, 2026.
Who tests well water in Lancaster County?
Lancaster County does not run its own well water testing. Residents can use Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory (Drinking Water Testing), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Reading District Office.
How do I get a sample bottle in Lancaster County?
Get a Penn State Drinking Water Test Kit from a Penn State Extension county office. Many offices have them. The kit has a cooler, a shipping box, sample bottles, instructions and a form. For a bacteria-only test, call the lab for a smaller kit.
How quickly does the sample need to reach the lab?
The lab must get the bacteria sample within 30 hours of when you take it. Keep it in the refrigerator until you send it.
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 (9)
- agsci.psu.edu/aasl/water-testing/drinking-water-testing
- agsci.psu.edu/aasl/water-testing/drinking-water-testing/drinking-water-submission-form
- agsci.psu.edu/aasl/water-testing/drinking-water-testing/how-to-collect-a-water-sample
- pa.gov/agencies/dep/residents/my-water/private-wells/water-testing.html
- pa.gov/agencies/dep/residents/my-water/private-wells.html
- files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/BSDW/DrinkingWaterManagement/PrivateWaterWells/DW_Micro_Lab_Certification_06-13-2024%20Accreditation%20Report.pdf
- files.dep.state.pa.us/Water/BSDW/DrinkingWaterManagement/PrivateWaterWells/DW_Lab_Certification_06-11-2024%20Lab%20Accreditation%20Report.pdf
- pa.gov/agencies/health/about-us/county-municipal-health-depts
- chesco.org/978/Well-Water-Test-Labs