Well Water Problems: Find the Cause, Test It, Fix It Right

Updated October 31, 2026 · General information, not medical or plumbing advice

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The short answer: Start with what you notice, then get a state-certified lab test. Symptoms point to a likely cause, but only a lab number tells you how much is in your water, and the right treatment depends on that number. Test at least once a year, and again after floods, repairs or any change in taste, color or smell.

About 15 percent of people in the U.S. (over 43 million) rely on private wells, EPA says. Nobody tests your water for you. This site helps you work out what is wrong, which test to ask for and what kind of treatment fits, without selling you a system you do not need.

Start here: the well water checker

Rotten-egg smell, orange stains, white scale, a failed test? Pick what you see and get the likely cause and next step.

What's wrong with my well water?

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Safety first. Taste, smell and color do not tell you whether water is safe to drink. For any health-related test, use a state-certified lab. Home kits are screening only. If a lab test comes back positive for bacteria or a harmful chemical, follow your health department's advice.

Common questions

Is well water safe to drink?

Not automatically. EPA says the quality and safety of private well water is not regulated by the federal government, and private well owners are responsible for delivering safe drinking water to their households. EPA also cites a U.S. Geological Survey study of 2,100 private wells in which about one in five contained at least one contaminant above a human-health benchmark.

How often should I test my well?

CDC says to test at least once each year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and to test sooner after flooding, repairs, or a change in taste, color or smell.

Where do I get a test done?

Use a state-certified laboratory. CDC says health departments, environmental departments or your county government can give you a list of certified labs.

Do I need a filter?

Only if testing shows a problem or you want to fix taste, smell or stains. CDC notes that if testing finds no harmful germs or chemicals, you may not need a filter.

Sources