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Well Water Testing in New Hampshire
Arsenic, uranium, and radon occur naturally in New Hampshire bedrock, and all three are odorless and tasteless, so a water test is the only way to know what is in your well. A licensed local contractor can run a free in-home water test, or you can use a state-accredited laboratory.
Your request goes to an independent local water treatment contractor serving New Hampshire, not a national lead list.
How to test your well water in New Hampshire
There are two practical paths, and they suit different situations. Many New Hampshire well owners start with a broad panel to get the full picture, then act on whatever the results show.
A state-accredited laboratory
Send a sample to a state-accredited laboratory for a mail-in panel. The New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories test private-well samples on a fee-for-service basis and return a full report with an interpretation of the results, and NHDES accredits private laboratories through its Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. NHDES recommends using an accredited lab.
A free in-home test
Have a licensed local contractor run a free in-home water test. The contractor you are matched with collects the sample, explains what the results mean in plain language, and provides a written quote only if treatment is worthwhile. There is no cost and no obligation.
What to test for in New Hampshire wells
NHDES recommends a standard analysis for private wells that covers arsenic, bacteria, nitrate and nitrite, chloride, copper, fluoride, hardness, iron, lead, manganese, pH, and sodium, plus a radiological test for radon and uranium. On New Hampshire bedrock wells, the contaminants that matter most are the ones that come from the granite: arsenic, uranium, and radon.
- Arsenic The top concern on New Hampshire bedrock wells
- Uranium A naturally occurring radioactive metal from bedrock
- Radon A radioactive gas that also escapes into indoor air
- Iron and manganese Staining, metallic taste, and buildup
- Hardness Scale and reduced appliance life
- Nitrate and bacteria Signs of surface influence or contamination
What your results mean and next steps
A test is only useful if you act on it. If a result comes back above the recommended level, a licensed local contractor can recommend and install treatment sized to your water. New Hampshire's enforceable arsenic standard is 5 parts per billion, half the federal limit, so an arsenic result between 5 and 10 is already worth addressing.
From there, the path depends on your results: a system for arsenic, treatment for uranium or radon, or a whole-house system when several contaminants are present. If you are testing because you are buying or selling a home, see our guide to well water testing before a home sale.
- If your test shows arsenic, see Arsenic in Well Water Treatment.
- If your test shows uranium, see Uranium in Well Water Treatment.
- If your test shows radon, see Radon in Well Water Treatment.
- If your test shows iron or manganese, see Iron and Manganese Treatment.
- If several contaminants show up, see Whole-House Water Treatment.
- To protect drinking water at one tap, see Reverse Osmosis Systems.
How matching works
- 1
Tell us about your water
Share your concern or just request a free test. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 2
We connect you with a local contractor
You are matched with a licensed local contractor who works in your part of New Hampshire.
- 3
Get your test and a written quote
The contractor runs a free in-home water test, explains the results, and gives you a written quote only if treatment is worthwhile. No obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my well water tested in New Hampshire?
There are two paths. You can send a sample to a state-accredited laboratory for a mail-in panel, including the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories, which test private-well samples on a fee-for-service basis and return a full report with an interpretation. Or a licensed local contractor can come to your home and run a free in-home water test.
What should I test my well water for in New Hampshire?
NHDES recommends a standard analysis that includes arsenic, bacteria, nitrate and nitrite, chloride, copper, fluoride, hardness, iron, lead, manganese, pH, and sodium, plus a radiological test for radon and uranium. On New Hampshire bedrock wells, arsenic, uranium, and radon deserve particular attention.
How much does well water testing cost?
A state-accredited mail-in panel has a lab fee that varies by the contaminants included. As 2026 New Hampshire context, single-analyte arsenic testing at the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories is about $15, while a comprehensive homeowner panel from a New Hampshire accredited laboratory generally runs from roughly $180 to $315. The in-home test through the licensed contractor you are matched with is free and carries no obligation.
How often should I test my private well?
NHDES recommends testing for bacteria and nitrate every year, and a standard analysis that includes arsenic and the metals every three to five years, along with a radiological test for radon and uranium every three to five years.
Is the in-home water test really free?
Yes. The licensed local contractor you are matched with provides the in-home test at no cost and no obligation.
Start with a free in-home water test
A licensed local contractor will test your water, explain the results, and give you a written quote. No obligation.
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