Bacteriological Private Water Well Sampling Instructions

The Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Public Health (LDH/OPH) offers several convenient ways to order bacteriological sampling for your private water well.  Sampling kits are available for pickup and drop-off at any of the LDH/OPH laboratories or Public Health Unit schedules listed below or at this directory.  Onsite sampling kit and laboratory analysis fees of $40 are payable to LDH/OPH/LAB with check or money order only.

Sampling kits are also available online with direct shipping to your home for self-collected sampling and returned by you to your preferred Public Health Unit or laboratory. Sanitarian collected bacteriological sampling is also available.  A sanitarian will visit the home, collect the water well sample, and return it to the laboratory for analysis.  Please visit the online ordering tool here to select the right option for your family’s needs. Sampling kit and laboratory analysis fees are $40 plus $3.50 service fee for self-collected and $75-$100 plus $3.50 service fee for sanitarian collected options.  Online order fees are payable using credit card only.

Private water samples collected by a person other than regulatory personnel (an individual working for or approved by the State of Louisiana Water Regulatory) are considered unofficial and cannot be used for legal purposes.

Private water samples are tested by the laboratory Monday through Thursday of each week (excluding holidays) at 2:00 PM.   Samples cannot be over 30 hours old from the time of collection at the time of testing.

Procedure for Collecting a Private Water Well Sample

Accurate testing of any sample in the laboratory begins with proper sample collection. Private water well sample collection instructions are available below and in a downloadable format.  For more information on private water well testing, please call 1-888-293-7020.