Virginia Well Water Testing and Programs

Quick answer

About 1,430,000 people in Virginia (17.9% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. Virginia Department of Health runs the state’s private well guidance. VDH points well owners to Virginia Cooperative Extension's Virginia Household Water Quality Program, which offers low-cost annual well water testing clinics across Virginia.

People on private wells: 1,430,018
Share of residents: 17.9%
Rank among states: 9th
Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic: 2.2%

Where to get your well tested in Virginia

Virginia Department of Health: Private Well Program, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
Well water testing in Virginia: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
Certified laboratories in Virginia. Use a lab certified for drinking water, so results are reliable.

Free or low-cost testing

VDH points well owners to Virginia Cooperative Extension's Virginia Household Water Quality Program, which offers low-cost annual well water testing clinics across Virginia. (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 Virginia 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
Pittsylvania County	44,905	70.7%	1.8%
Bedford County	35,851	52.2%	1.5%
Hanover County	34,913	35.0%	1.9%
Fairfax County	33,115	3.1%	2.4%
Franklin County	32,246	57.4%	1.7%
Fauquier County	31,092	47.7%	2.9%
Albemarle County	30,585	30.9%	2.1%
Rockingham County	29,825	39.1%	1.0%
Spotsylvania County	28,806	23.5%	2.0%
Loudoun County	28,556	9.1%	3.8%
Campbell County	28,058	51.2%	2.0%
Louisa County	27,666	83.4%	1.5%

Show all 133 counties

Prince William County	27,236	6.8%	3.9%
Halifax County	25,436	70.2%	1.2%
Henry County	24,856	45.9%	1.6%
Frederick County	24,650	31.5%	2.1%
Augusta County	24,472	33.2%	1.8%
Chesterfield County	24,205	7.7%	2.8%
Accomack County	23,526	70.9%	3.7%
Stafford County	22,331	17.3%	2.3%
Gloucester County	22,115	60.0%	4.3%
Mecklenburg County	20,605	63.0%	1.6%
Chesapeake city	19,317	8.7%	2.1%
Culpeper County	19,255	41.2%	2.5%
Carroll County	19,159	63.8%	1.2%
Virginia Beach city	19,081	4.4%	3.0%
Powhatan County	17,708	63.1%	2.4%
Buchanan County	17,016	70.6%	2.6%
Dinwiddie County	16,582	59.2%	2.2%
Caroline County	16,491	57.8%	2.0%
Henrico County	16,370	5.3%	1.7%
Orange County	16,368	48.9%	2.0%
Roanoke County	16,312	17.7%	2.0%
Goochland County	16,146	74.3%	3.5%
Montgomery County	15,986	16.9%	1.9%
Prince Edward County	15,513	66.4%	2.0%
Botetourt County	14,667	44.2%	1.7%
Buckingham County	14,158	82.6%	2.0%
Shenandoah County	14,014	33.4%	1.6%
Patrick County	13,876	75.0%	1.4%
Prince George County	13,773	38.6%	1.5%
Tazewell County	13,628	30.2%	2.0%
Isle of Wight County	13,432	38.1%	4.6%
Suffolk city	13,394	15.8%	5.7%
Fluvanna County	13,146	51.2%	2.0%
New Kent County	13,081	71.0%	2.3%
Wythe County	13,045	44.6%	1.3%
Russell County	12,944	44.8%	1.2%
Brunswick County	12,541	71.9%	2.0%
Amelia County	12,028	94.8%	2.4%
Appomattox County	11,885	79.4%	1.0%
Warren County	11,719	31.2%	2.0%
Amherst County	11,642	36.0%	2.4%
Southampton County	11,310	60.9%	1.3%
King William County	10,573	66.3%	2.3%
Nelson County	10,433	69.5%	2.3%
Rockbridge County	10,301	46.2%	2.2%
Madison County	9,982	75.0%	2.0%
Charlotte County	9,980	79.3%	1.8%
Page County	9,668	40.2%	1.0%
Grayson County	9,361	60.3%	1.2%
Floyd County	9,032	59.1%	1.4%
Northampton County	8,918	72.0%	4.3%
King George County	8,842	37.5%	2.1%
Cumberland County	8,738	86.9%	2.6%
Wise County	8,662	20.9%	1.8%
Westmoreland County	8,607	49.3%	2.1%
Scott County	8,569	37.0%	1.1%
Northumberland County	8,480	68.8%	2.7%
Lunenburg County	8,284	64.1%	1.3%
Pulaski County	8,140	23.3%	1.7%
Nottoway County	7,899	49.8%	2.0%
Essex County	7,822	70.1%	2.0%
Clarke County	7,672	54.7%	1.7%
Washington County	7,643	13.9%	1.2%
Lee County	7,421	29.0%	1.0%
Smyth County	7,401	23.0%	1.3%
Richmond County	7,326	79.2%	2.0%
Mathews County	7,303	81.3%	3.0%
James City County	7,217	10.8%	3.5%
Middlesex County	7,168	65.4%	3.2%
King and Queen County	6,738	97.0%	2.9%
Charles City County	6,696	92.3%	2.7%
Sussex County	6,693	55.4%	2.0%
Dickenson County	6,376	40.1%	2.3%
Greensville County	6,107	49.9%	2.0%
Lancaster County	6,098	53.5%	3.6%
Rappahannock County	5,901	80.0%	2.0%
Greene County	5,783	31.4%	2.0%
Alleghany County	5,551	34.2%	2.0%
Surry County	4,899	69.4%	2.0%
York County	4,310	6.6%	3.3%
Giles County	4,232	24.5%	2.0%
Danville city	4,015	9.3%	2.0%
Bland County	3,956	58.0%	2.0%
Craig County	3,273	63.1%	2.0%
Lynchburg city	2,365	3.1%	1.5%
Norfolk city	2,131	0.9%	6.4%
Bath County	1,604	33.9%	2.0%
Roanoke city	1,307	1.3%	1.8%
Richmond city	1,089	0.5%	1.9%
Highland County	965	41.6%	2.0%
Emporia city	779	13.1%	1.0%
Manassas city	761	2.0%	5.6%
Salem city	657	2.6%	1.7%
Harrisonburg city	607	1.2%	1.0%
Galax city	460	6.5%	–
Fairfax city	456	2.0%	–
Hampton city	395	0.3%	–
Williamsburg city	369	2.6%	–
Charlottesville city	360	0.8%	–
Winchester city	327	1.2%	–
Arlington County	319	0.2%	–
Petersburg city	285	0.9%	–
Portsmouth city	262	0.3%	–
Fredericksburg city	225	0.9%	–
Newport News city	225	0.1%	–
Waynesboro city	189	0.9%	–
Staunton city	148	0.6%	–
Bristol city	131	0.7%	–
Hopewell city	123	0.5%	–
Buena Vista city	114	1.7%	–
Covington city	107	1.8%	–
Radford city	97	0.6%	–
Martinsville city	84	0.6%	–
Manassas Park city	80	0.6%	–
Norton city	62	1.6%	–
Poquoson city	60	0.5%	–
Lexington city	39	0.6%	–
Colonial Heights city	37	0.2%	–
Alexandria city	36	0.0%	–
Franklin city	31	0.4%	–
Falls Church city	25	0.2%	–

Counties with the highest modeled arsenic share: Norfolk city (6.4%), Suffolk city (5.7%), Manassas city (5.6%), Isle of Wight County (4.6%), Gloucester County (4.3%).

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 Virginia offer free well water testing?

VDH points well owners to Virginia Cooperative Extension's Virginia Household Water Quality Program, which offers low-cost annual well water testing clinics across Virginia.

Who oversees private wells in Virginia?

Virginia Department of Health (Private Well 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 Virginia?

USGS estimates about 1,430,000 people, or 17.9% of the population in 2010. That ranks 9th of the states covered by the estimate.

What should I test my well for in Virginia?

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.