Private Well Testing Information

To assist you and your family in maintaining safe and healthy drinking water, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has developed a brochure titled"Private Water Well Testing in Louisiana - What You Need to Know to Protect Your Water." This brochure includes information on how to prevent the contamination of your private well, and the importance of getting your well inspected, tested for bacteria or chemicals that can cause disease, and disinfected after major hurricanes and floods. Annual well maintenance is essential to keep your water safe. Well owners are encouraged to follow the advice provided in the brochure to keep their well in functional condition for years to come.

Residents often have questions about how to sample their private well. You can get started by contacting your local parish health unit sanitarian. Sanitarian-collected bacteriological testing is available for $150 and includes the laboratory analysis. If a well owner wants to collect the sample themselves and transport it to the parish health unit or lab, the cost is $40 per sample. Orders can be placed online or in person at a parish health unit.

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Licensed well professionals can be located through the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR). The National Groundwater Association also provides information on locating and selecting a well inspector and the questions you should ask. After you choose a well inspection professional, confirm their license is current by calling the LDENR's Office of Conservation at (225) 342-8244 or by email at [email protected]. Should additional sampling be needed, find a comprehensive listing of LDH-certified chemistry laboratories and analytes below.