Quick answer
About 536,000 people in Alabama (11.2% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. Alabama Department of Public Health runs the state’s private well guidance. ADPH's Bureau of Clinical Laboratories says its fee is currently waived for private well samples it tests for total coliform bacteria and E. coli; county collection fees may still apply.
- People on private wells
- 536,386
- Share of residents
- 11.2%
- Rank among states
- 22nd
- Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
- 1.6%
Where to get your well tested in Alabama
- Alabama Department of Public Health: Well Water, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
- Well water testing in Alabama: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
- Certified laboratories in Alabama. Use a lab certified for drinking water, so results are reliable.
Free or low-cost testing
ADPH's Bureau of Clinical Laboratories says its fee is currently waived for private well samples it tests for total coliform bacteria and E. coli; county collection fees may still apply. (source)
Mail-in lab kits are another option when no local lab is convenient. See well water test kits for what home kits can and can’t tell you.
What to test for
- Every year: total coliform bacteria and nitrate.
- Before buying equipment: pH, hardness, iron, manganese and, if there’s a smell, hydrogen sulfide.
- Based on location: arsenic, uranium and radon, PFAS, and lead in older plumbing.
Private wells by county
Estimated people relying on private wells in each Alabama county in 2010, the share of residents that represents, and the modeled share of well users with arsenic above 10 µg/L. These are USGS model estimates (2010 population), not measurements of any well. Arsenic is hidden for counties with fewer than 500 well users.
| County | People on wells | Share | Arsenic >10 µg/L |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile County | 43,002 | 10.4% | 2.0% |
| Baldwin County | 30,343 | 16.6% | 1.8% |
| Talladega County | 21,570 | 26.2% | 1.0% |
| Houston County | 20,780 | 20.5% | 1.2% |
| DeKalb County | 20,631 | 29.0% | 3.5% |
| Covington County | 15,262 | 40.4% | 1.0% |
| Jackson County | 14,879 | 28.0% | 2.9% |
| Blount County | 14,819 | 25.9% | 2.1% |
| Lauderdale County | 13,942 | 15.0% | 1.0% |
| Geneva County | 12,906 | 48.2% | 1.4% |
| Lee County | 11,733 | 8.4% | 1.0% |
| Randolph County | 11,331 | 49.5% | 1.2% |
Show all 67 counties
| Limestone County | 10,778 | 13.0% | 1.2% |
| Dale County | 9,899 | 19.7% | 2.3% |
| Tuscaloosa County | 9,879 | 5.1% | 2.0% |
| Chilton County | 9,681 | 22.2% | 1.3% |
| Coffee County | 9,676 | 19.4% | 1.4% |
| Cleburne County | 9,177 | 61.3% | 1.2% |
| Cherokee County | 9,067 | 34.9% | 2.3% |
| Madison County | 8,745 | 2.6% | 1.1% |
| Dallas County | 8,565 | 19.5% | 1.6% |
| Winston County | 8,507 | 34.7% | 2.8% |
| Chambers County | 8,179 | 23.9% | 1.1% |
| St. Clair County | 7,934 | 9.5% | 1.5% |
| Washington County | 7,914 | 45.0% | 1.0% |
| Marengo County | 7,683 | 36.5% | 1.0% |
| Escambia County | 7,676 | 20.0% | 1.0% |
| Choctaw County | 7,267 | 52.4% | 1.0% |
| Walker County | 7,213 | 10.8% | 2.4% |
| Clay County | 7,058 | 50.7% | 1.0% |
| Marion County | 6,937 | 22.5% | 1.8% |
| Shelby County | 6,641 | 3.4% | 1.5% |
| Calhoun County | 6,587 | 5.6% | 1.4% |
| Montgomery County | 6,565 | 2.9% | 1.2% |
| Autauga County | 6,464 | 11.8% | 1.0% |
| Clarke County | 5,775 | 22.4% | 1.0% |
| Tallapoosa County | 5,666 | 13.6% | 1.0% |
| Fayette County | 5,396 | 31.3% | 1.9% |
| Monroe County | 5,264 | 22.8% | 1.3% |
| Elmore County | 5,254 | 6.6% | 1.0% |
| Marshall County | 5,245 | 5.6% | 2.7% |
| Jefferson County | 5,090 | 0.8% | 2.1% |
| Conecuh County | 4,993 | 37.7% | 1.0% |
| Lawrence County | 4,845 | 14.1% | 1.7% |
| Henry County | 4,689 | 27.1% | 1.1% |
| Franklin County | 4,510 | 14.2% | 1.9% |
| Etowah County | 4,372 | 4.2% | 1.5% |
| Wilcox County | 4,128 | 35.4% | 1.6% |
| Coosa County | 3,930 | 34.1% | 1.0% |
| Russell County | 3,926 | 7.4% | 1.0% |
| Morgan County | 3,902 | 3.3% | 2.7% |
| Colbert County | 3,748 | 6.9% | 1.7% |
| Lamar County | 3,700 | 25.4% | 2.0% |
| Pickens County | 3,622 | 18.3% | 1.9% |
| Pike County | 3,452 | 10.5% | 1.0% |
| Perry County | 3,346 | 31.6% | 1.0% |
| Crenshaw County | 3,192 | 23.0% | 1.6% |
| Hale County | 3,070 | 19.5% | 1.1% |
| Butler County | 3,064 | 14.6% | 2.0% |
| Cullman County | 2,601 | 3.2% | 3.0% |
| Macon County | 2,599 | 12.1% | 1.0% |
| Greene County | 2,444 | 27.0% | 1.0% |
| Barbour County | 1,876 | 6.8% | 1.0% |
| Bibb County | 1,366 | 6.0% | 1.5% |
| Sumter County | 774 | 5.6% | 1.0% |
| Lowndes County | 741 | 6.6% | 2.6% |
| Bullock County | 516 | 4.7% | 1.0% |
After you get results
Enter your numbers in the test results tool to see what needs treating and in what order. The guide to reading a well water test explains units and limits.
Common questions
Does Alabama offer free well water testing?
ADPH's Bureau of Clinical Laboratories says its fee is currently waived for private well samples it tests for total coliform bacteria and E. coli; county collection fees may still apply.
Who oversees private wells in Alabama?
Alabama Department of Public Health (Well Water) publishes guidance for private well owners. Private wells aren’t covered by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, so testing and treatment are up to the owner.
How many people use private wells in Alabama?
USGS estimates about 536,000 people, or 11.2% of the population in 2010. That ranks 22nd of the states covered by the estimate.
What should I test my well for in Alabama?
Test every year for total coliform bacteria and nitrate, plus pH, hardness, iron and manganese before buying equipment. Ask the state program or a certified lab about local concerns such as arsenic, uranium or PFAS.
Sources
- Alabama Department of Public Health: Well Water
- Alabama Department of Public Health: well water testing
- Alabama certified laboratories
- Alabama free or low-cost testing
- USGS data release: domestic well locations and populations served, 2000 and 2010 (Johnson, Belitz and Lombard, 2019)
- CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking: private well water data (from USGS)