Private Well Water Testing
When should I get my water tested? It is recommended that private well owners test their water for bacterial contamination every year. Additional tests can be requested for a variety of inorganic, mineral and toxic metals, volatile organic compounds and pesticides. All new wells are tested as part of the permitting process and the cost is included in the permit fees. If you have spring water, you will need to contact a private laboratory for testing of the water. Municipal and community water supply sources are tested regularly by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Contact the supplier for a copy of the most recent report.
Water samples are taken at your residence or facility by a Registered Environmental Health Specialist. Requests and payment for this service shall be completed prior to an appointment for service.
No refunds will be given for water sample requests.
You can now apply for water sample requests online through our Civic Access Portal. For first time login help click here. Once you log in, here's a little more info on the site: Understanding Civic Access. Applications that are received through the online portal go into a queue and are processed in the order they are received. Click here to start
For help with how to apply for a water sample click here
In person at 538 Scotts Creek Road Sylva, NC 28779; 828-587-8250
Click here to see a listing of the type of water samples available, explanation of the sample and the fee.
Bacterial water samples are generally analyzed at the Health Department and will be processed within 30 hours after taking the sample and notification sent. All other water samples are sent to the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health and will take three or greater weeks to analyze prior to results being sent.