Quick answer
About 2,162,000 people in North Carolina (22.7% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health runs the state’s private well guidance. We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in North Carolina. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
- People on private wells
- 2,161,691
- Share of residents
- 22.7%
- Rank among states
- 3rd
- Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
- 2.0%
Where to get your well tested in North Carolina
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health: Private Wells Program, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
- Well water testing in North Carolina: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
Free or low-cost testing
We didn’t find a free statewide program in North Carolina. Certified labs charge per test; county health departments sometimes offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
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 North Carolina 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | 61,598 | 6.8% | 2.3% |
| Guilford County | 59,700 | 12.2% | 1.8% |
| Rowan County | 52,627 | 38.0% | 3.0% |
| Johnston County | 51,528 | 30.5% | 1.7% |
| Randolph County | 50,894 | 35.9% | 1.2% |
| Gaston County | 46,201 | 22.4% | 1.0% |
| Surry County | 45,886 | 62.3% | 1.6% |
| Sampson County | 45,818 | 72.2% | 2.5% |
| Catawba County | 43,876 | 28.4% | 1.5% |
| Wayne County | 42,047 | 34.3% | 1.9% |
| Rockingham County | 39,940 | 42.7% | 2.6% |
| Columbus County | 39,853 | 68.6% | 1.9% |
Show all 100 counties
| Mecklenburg County | 39,824 | 4.3% | 1.5% |
| Cumberland County | 39,562 | 12.4% | 2.3% |
| Union County | 38,949 | 19.3% | 2.1% |
| Brunswick County | 36,696 | 34.2% | 2.7% |
| Iredell County | 36,618 | 23.0% | 1.8% |
| Harnett County | 36,158 | 31.5% | 1.7% |
| Nash County | 35,342 | 36.9% | 1.2% |
| Alamance County | 35,129 | 23.2% | 2.1% |
| Robeson County | 34,813 | 25.9% | 1.6% |
| Duplin County | 34,132 | 58.3% | 2.1% |
| Buncombe County | 33,588 | 14.1% | 1.6% |
| Cleveland County | 33,058 | 33.7% | 1.6% |
| Forsyth County | 32,032 | 9.1% | 1.9% |
| Moore County | 30,889 | 35.0% | 1.3% |
| Pender County | 30,830 | 59.0% | 1.9% |
| Rutherford County | 30,098 | 44.4% | 1.5% |
| Orange County | 29,119 | 21.8% | 2.1% |
| Franklin County | 28,150 | 46.4% | 1.9% |
| Chatham County | 27,416 | 43.2% | 2.2% |
| Durham County | 27,359 | 10.2% | 3.2% |
| Lincoln County | 26,617 | 34.0% | 1.3% |
| Wilkes County | 26,303 | 37.9% | 1.7% |
| Henderson County | 26,138 | 24.5% | 1.0% |
| Beaufort County | 25,604 | 53.6% | 3.4% |
| Stokes County | 25,515 | 53.8% | 2.0% |
| Granville County | 25,496 | 42.6% | 2.6% |
| Stanly County | 25,351 | 41.8% | 2.1% |
| Cabarrus County | 24,849 | 14.0% | 2.4% |
| Carteret County | 24,710 | 37.2% | 4.7% |
| McDowell County | 24,423 | 54.3% | 1.4% |
| Burke County | 24,147 | 26.6% | 1.8% |
| Yadkin County | 23,922 | 62.3% | 2.4% |
| New Hanover County | 23,123 | 11.4% | 2.3% |
| Person County | 22,351 | 56.6% | 1.8% |
| Bladen County | 22,175 | 63.0% | 2.1% |
| Caldwell County | 20,871 | 25.1% | 1.1% |
| Wilson County | 20,275 | 25.0% | 1.5% |
| Caswell County | 19,387 | 81.7% | 2.0% |
| Edgecombe County | 18,697 | 33.1% | 1.5% |
| Vance County | 18,348 | 40.4% | 2.0% |
| Halifax County | 17,767 | 32.5% | 1.2% |
| Craven County | 16,987 | 16.4% | 3.1% |
| Scotland County | 16,539 | 45.7% | 1.6% |
| Lee County | 16,069 | 27.8% | 2.1% |
| Davidson County | 15,901 | 9.8% | 2.3% |
| Pitt County | 15,800 | 9.4% | 2.4% |
| Warren County | 14,851 | 70.8% | 1.4% |
| Alexander County | 14,573 | 39.2% | 1.2% |
| Macon County | 14,505 | 42.8% | 1.4% |
| Haywood County | 14,412 | 24.4% | 1.4% |
| Hoke County | 14,293 | 30.4% | 1.2% |
| Transylvania County | 13,758 | 41.6% | 1.0% |
| Watauga County | 13,409 | 26.3% | 1.1% |
| Jackson County | 13,333 | 33.1% | 1.0% |
| Bertie County | 12,926 | 60.7% | 2.3% |
| Martin County | 12,710 | 51.9% | 4.0% |
| Onslow County | 12,544 | 7.1% | 2.0% |
| Davie County | 12,410 | 30.1% | 3.6% |
| Richmond County | 12,192 | 26.1% | 1.0% |
| Hertford County | 11,612 | 47.1% | 1.3% |
| Montgomery County | 11,446 | 41.2% | 1.3% |
| Polk County | 11,390 | 55.5% | 1.0% |
| Ashe County | 11,109 | 40.7% | 1.0% |
| Cherokee County | 10,547 | 38.4% | 1.1% |
| Currituck County | 10,245 | 43.5% | 3.2% |
| Northampton County | 9,897 | 44.8% | 1.8% |
| Lenoir County | 8,823 | 14.8% | 5.3% |
| Anson County | 8,714 | 32.3% | 3.3% |
| Madison County | 8,219 | 39.6% | 2.0% |
| Camden County | 6,945 | 69.6% | 2.0% |
| Avery County | 6,873 | 38.6% | 1.8% |
| Yancey County | 6,132 | 34.4% | 2.4% |
| Clay County | 5,877 | 55.5% | 1.0% |
| Alleghany County | 5,438 | 48.7% | 1.0% |
| Dare County | 5,238 | 15.4% | 4.5% |
| Mitchell County | 4,524 | 29.0% | 3.6% |
| Washington County | 4,512 | 34.1% | 2.3% |
| Swain County | 3,926 | 28.1% | 1.0% |
| Gates County | 2,740 | 22.5% | 2.0% |
| Jones County | 2,462 | 24.2% | 1.8% |
| Hyde County | 2,070 | 35.6% | 3.0% |
| Graham County | 1,985 | 22.4% | 1.0% |
| Pamlico County | 1,866 | 14.2% | 2.9% |
| Greene County | 1,864 | 8.7% | 2.8% |
| Tyrrell County | 1,421 | 32.2% | 3.0% |
| Pasquotank County | 1,112 | 2.7% | 1.6% |
| Perquimans County | 1,026 | 7.6% | 1.2% |
| Chowan County | 667 | 4.5% | 4.1% |
Counties with the highest modeled arsenic share: Lenoir County (5.3%), Carteret County (4.7%), Dare County (4.5%), Chowan County (4.1%), Martin County (4.0%).
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 North Carolina offer free well water testing?
We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in North Carolina. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
Who oversees private wells in North Carolina?
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health (Private Wells Program) 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 North Carolina?
USGS estimates about 2,162,000 people, or 22.7% of the population in 2010. That ranks 3rd of the states covered by the estimate.
What should I test my well for in North Carolina?
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
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health: Private Wells Program
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health: well water 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)