Quick answer
About 431,000 people in West Virginia (23.2% of residents) got their water from private wells in 2010, according to USGS estimates. West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services runs the state’s private well guidance. We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in West Virginia. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
- People on private wells
- 430,791
- Share of residents
- 23.2%
- Rank among states
- 30th
- Well users modeled above 10 µg/L arsenic
- 2.5%
Where to get your well tested in West Virginia
- West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services: Individual Water Supplies, the state’s guidance for private well owners.
- Well water testing in West Virginia: what to test for and how to collect a sample.
- Certified laboratories in West Virginia. Use a lab certified for drinking water, so results are reliable.
Free or low-cost testing
We didn’t find a free statewide program in West Virginia. 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 West 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanawha County | 18,445 | 9.6% | 2.7% |
| Mingo County | 17,893 | 66.7% | 2.3% |
| Berkeley County | 17,699 | 17.0% | 2.6% |
| Hampshire County | 15,242 | 63.6% | 2.2% |
| Mercer County | 14,728 | 23.7% | 2.0% |
| Jefferson County | 14,461 | 27.0% | 2.5% |
| Jackson County | 13,733 | 47.0% | 3.0% |
| Boone County | 13,430 | 54.5% | 2.0% |
| Wayne County | 12,942 | 30.5% | 2.2% |
| Preston County | 12,663 | 37.8% | 2.2% |
| Lincoln County | 12,597 | 58.0% | 2.4% |
| Greenbrier County | 11,997 | 33.8% | 2.1% |
Show all 55 counties
| Morgan County | 11,275 | 64.3% | 3.6% |
| Wyoming County | 10,573 | 44.4% | 2.0% |
| Logan County | 10,117 | 27.5% | 2.2% |
| Putnam County | 9,479 | 17.1% | 2.8% |
| Cabell County | 9,148 | 9.5% | 2.8% |
| Mineral County | 8,968 | 31.8% | 2.3% |
| Roane County | 8,776 | 58.8% | 3.0% |
| Wood County | 8,163 | 9.4% | 2.8% |
| Summers County | 8,131 | 58.4% | 3.0% |
| McDowell County | 7,912 | 35.8% | 2.5% |
| Nicholas County | 7,819 | 29.8% | 1.7% |
| Fayette County | 7,744 | 16.8% | 2.7% |
| Harrison County | 7,653 | 11.1% | 3.0% |
| Hardy County | 7,412 | 52.8% | 2.0% |
| Braxton County | 7,345 | 50.6% | 2.0% |
| Randolph County | 7,238 | 24.6% | 2.3% |
| Upshur County | 7,018 | 28.9% | 2.0% |
| Lewis County | 6,875 | 42.0% | 2.2% |
| Mason County | 6,824 | 25.0% | 3.0% |
| Monroe County | 6,708 | 49.7% | 2.7% |
| Doddridge County | 6,577 | 80.2% | 3.0% |
| Gilmer County | 6,373 | 73.3% | 3.0% |
| Clay County | 6,094 | 64.9% | 2.0% |
| Wetzel County | 5,498 | 33.2% | 3.1% |
| Ritchie County | 5,328 | 51.0% | 3.0% |
| Pocahontas County | 5,028 | 57.7% | 2.0% |
| Raleigh County | 5,004 | 6.3% | 2.3% |
| Calhoun County | 4,903 | 64.3% | 3.4% |
| Monongalia County | 4,342 | 4.5% | 2.6% |
| Tyler County | 4,331 | 47.0% | 3.1% |
| Barbour County | 4,275 | 25.8% | 3.0% |
| Marshall County | 4,074 | 12.3% | 3.0% |
| Webster County | 3,333 | 36.4% | 1.0% |
| Wirt County | 3,071 | 53.7% | 3.0% |
| Hancock County | 3,026 | 9.9% | 4.1% |
| Pendleton County | 2,793 | 36.3% | 2.0% |
| Marion County | 2,700 | 4.8% | 3.1% |
| Taylor County | 2,468 | 14.6% | 3.2% |
| Pleasants County | 2,360 | 31.0% | 3.0% |
| Grant County | 2,329 | 19.5% | 1.6% |
| Brooke County | 2,198 | 9.1% | 3.6% |
| Ohio County | 2,024 | 4.6% | 2.1% |
| Tucker County | 1,654 | 23.2% | 2.0% |
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 West Virginia offer free well water testing?
We didn’t find a free statewide well testing program in West Virginia. Certified labs charge for each test, and some county health departments offer lower-cost bacteria and nitrate tests.
Who oversees private wells in West Virginia?
West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (Individual Water Supplies) 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 West Virginia?
USGS estimates about 431,000 people, or 23.2% of the population in 2010. That ranks 30th of the states covered by the estimate.
What should I test my well for in West 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.
Sources
- West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services: Individual Water Supplies
- West Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services: well water testing
- West Virginia certified laboratories
- 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)