Private well guide

Well Water in Pennsylvania: Testing, Rules, Labs and Licensed Contractors

1,388,301 households in Pennsylvania get their water from a private well. Here is what the state requires, where to get it tested, and who is licensed to work on it.

Find a certified labLicensed contractorsPick my county
294Licensed contractorschecked against state records
138Certified labsfrom the state certified list
67Counties covered
1,388,301Households on wells27% of households (est.)

Pennsylvania has more than a million households on private wells and no statewide rule that says a well has to be built a certain way, tested when it is drilled, or tested when the house is sold. If you own a well here, you are the water department.

Pennsylvania is one of the few states with no well construction standards

Most states set a minimum for how deep a casing goes, how a well is grouted and what has to happen before anyone drinks from it. Pennsylvania does not. DCNR licenses the drillers, but the license does not require proof of drilling knowledge, and DEP publishes guidance rather than rules. Some counties and townships have filled the gap with their own ordinances, Chester County being the best known, so the county pages below tell you what applies where you live.

At a glance

Water test for a new wellNot required statewide

Pennsylvania has no statewide private well construction standards or mandatory testing. DCNR licenses drillers but states that licensure does not require demonstrated knowledge of proper drilling. Some counties and townships (for example Chester County) have local well ordinances.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. FHA, VA and USDA loans typically require a water test; some townships require testing at transfer.

What the state recommends

DEP recommends testing every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrate, total dissolved solids and pH, plus additional tests for any suspected contaminant. Penn State Extension recommends a broader panel every 3 years (metals, hardness, chloride, sulfate) and testing after flooding, repairs or a change in taste, odor or color.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

DEP regional offices sell low-cost bacteria test kits. Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab offers mail-in drinking water kits at cost.

Testing: what to order and where to send it

Penn State research has found that roughly 40% of private wells in the state fail at least one drinking water standard, most often for coliform bacteria. DEP suggests a yearly check for total coliform, nitrate, pH and total dissolved solids, with a wider panel every three years. The labs below are on the state accredited list and accept samples from homeowners. If none is close, the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab sells mail-in kits at cost.

138 certified labs

See all 138 certified labs in Pennsylvania

Licensed water well drillers

Every driller listed here appears on the DCNR licensed driller register, with the license number and the date we checked it. Pump installers and treatment companies are not licensed separately in Pennsylvania, so for pump and treatment work look for a driller who lists those services, or a plumber, and ask for references.

294 licensed contractors

See all 294 licensed contractors in Pennsylvania

County by county

Well rules, well depth and water chemistry change from one county to the next in Pennsylvania. Pick yours for local ordinances, labs within 40 miles and the contractors who work there.

Pennsylvania well water questions

Does Pennsylvania require a water test when I buy a house with a well?

No. There is no statewide requirement, but FHA, VA and USDA loans require one, and some townships require testing at transfer. Even when nobody requires it, a bacteria and nitrate test (about $55 at the Penn State lab) before closing is the cheapest inspection you will pay for.

Who do I call about a problem with my well in Pennsylvania?

DEP handles water quality questions and DCNR handles driller licensing and well records. Your county conservation district or Penn State Extension office can often answer local questions faster than either.

Are there well records for my property?

Drillers are required to file a well completion report with DCNR. Many older wells have no record, but the Pennsylvania Groundwater Information System lets you search by location for wells with a filed log.

How deep are wells in Pennsylvania?

Anywhere from 100 feet in the limestone valleys to 400 feet or more in the shale uplands. Depth, yield and chemistry are set by the rock under your county, which is why each county page lists the typical range.