Michigan county well guide

Well Water in Gladwin County, MI: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 8,179 households in Gladwin County, 81% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
81%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Gladwin County81%
Michigan average26%
7licensed contractors serve the county
3 mito the nearest certified lab, Assurance Water Laboratory
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Most homes in Gladwin County are on a private well: about 8,179 households, 81% of the county. That makes Gladwin County one of the places in Michigan where the water department is the homeowner.

Local rules for wells in Gladwin County

Michigan’s well construction code applies in Gladwin County, which means a permit from the local health department, an inspection, and a bacteria sample before use. Selling a home with a well may trigger a county point-of-sale program; the health department can confirm.

At a glance

Water test for a new wellRequired

Michigan requires new wells to be tested at installation under the well construction code (Part 127 of the Public Health Code). Local health departments issue the permit and require the sample.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement, but several counties run time-of-sale or point-of-sale well and septic evaluation programs. Check the county page.

What the state recommends

EGLE recommends testing for coliform bacteria, nitrate and nitrite, fluoride, chloride, sulfate, sodium, hardness, and metals including arsenic, lead, iron, manganese, copper, uranium and others. Bacteria and nitrate yearly; a full chemistry panel every few years or when water changes.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

Eight county health departments run their own onsite labs (Washtenaw, Oakland, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft). Residents elsewhere can order a mail-in test through the EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory.

Getting your water tested near Gladwin County

3 certified labs within 40 miles serve Gladwin County, starting with Assurance Water Laboratory in Gladwin (in the county). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.

3 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Gladwin County

7 licensed contractors serve Gladwin County, including E & E Well Drilling & Repair and Freeman & Son Well Drilling. Each profile carries the state license number and the date we checked it, and the filters below sort them by drilling, pump work or treatment.

Well depth and water chemistry

What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer. A first full panel tells you which of them apply to your well.

Typical well depth

Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.

Contaminants to test for
  • Arsenic (southeast and thumb region)
  • Nitrate (agricultural areas)
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Hardness
  • Coliform bacteria
  • PFAS near known sites

Neighboring counties: Clare County, Midland County, Ogemaw County, Roscommon County.

What well work costs in Gladwin County

Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$23 to $25published Michigan lab fees
Nitrate test$25 to $41published Michigan lab fees
Broad panel (metals and minerals)$79published Michigan lab fees
Well inspection$250 to $550$350 to $900 with water testing
Submersible pump replacement$1,000 to $2,500installed; deep wells cost more
Pressure tank replacement$800 to $1,500installed
One treatment unit$700 to $3,500softener, iron filter or UV, installed
Multi-stage whole-house treatment$2,500 to $10,000+several units or whole-house RO, installed
New well, complete$6,000 to $16,000typical 200 ft well with pump; drilling alone about $20 to $30 per foot; deeper wells cost more
Shock chlorination$80 to $200by a contractor; under $30 to do yourself

EGLE state lab from October 1, 2026 ($23 bacteria, $41 nitrate and nitrite, partial chemistry $66 plus $13 prep) and district health department labs ($25 each). Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: EGLE fee schedule effective 10/1/2026, Central Michigan District Health Department lab, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.

Questions Gladwin County well owners ask

How many homes in Gladwin County are on a well?

About 8,179, or 81% of households, based on Census housing data and state well surveys. The share is highest outside the towns with public water.

Where is the closest certified lab to Gladwin County?

Assurance Water Laboratory in Gladwin, inside the county. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.

Do I need a permit to drill a well in Gladwin County?

Yes. The local health department issues the permit and inspects the well under the Michigan well construction code.

What does a well test cost near Gladwin County?

A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.