North Carolina county well guide

Well Water in Nash County, NC: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 13,874 households in Nash County, 37% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
37%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Nash County37%
North Carolina average24%
3licensed contractors serve the county
40+ mito a certified lab; mail-in kits recommended
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Nash County has an estimated 13,874 households on private wells, 37% of the county. If you are one of them, testing, treatment and repairs are yours to arrange.

Local rules for wells in Nash County

Nash County Environmental Health issues well permits and, under North Carolina law, every new well must be tested within 30 days of completion before it is used for drinking. The county office also collects samples for the State Laboratory for a set fee, which is usually the cheapest route for a routine test.

At a glance

Water test for a new wellRequired

Every newly constructed private well must be tested within 30 days of completion by the State Laboratory of Public Health or a certified lab before it is used for drinking water.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement at sale. Lenders (FHA, VA, USDA) usually require a test.

What the state recommends

Every year: total and fecal coliform bacteria plus a wellhead inspection. Every 2 years: heavy metals, nitrate and nitrite, lead and copper. Every 5 years: pesticides and volatile organic compounds. Retest after repairs, flooding, a change in water quality, or when an infant or pregnant person is in the home.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

County health departments collect samples and send them to the State Laboratory of Public Health at set fees that vary by county (often $30 to $100 per panel).

Getting your water tested near Nash County

1 certified lab within 40 miles serve Nash County, starting with Eurofins Greenville in Oakmont Drive Greenville (about 40 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.

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Licensed well contractors serving Nash County

3 licensed contractors serve Nash County, including Bissette Well Drilling and Strickland Well & Pump. 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
  • Lead
  • Arsenic
  • Iron
  • Manganese
  • Low pH (corrosive water)
  • Coliform bacteria
  • Radon

Neighboring counties: Edgecombe County, Wilson County, Franklin County, Halifax County.

What well work costs in Nash County

Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$75published North Carolina lab fees
Nitrate test$75published North Carolina lab fees
Broad panel (metals and minerals)$175published North Carolina 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

County health departments set their own fees: $75 per kit in Moore County; $175 first-timer package in Wake County, plus a $50 trip fee if staff collect. Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: Moore County fee schedule, Wake County well water testing, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.

Questions Nash County well owners ask

How many homes in Nash County are on a well?

About 13,874, or 37% 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 Nash County?

Eurofins Greenville in Oakmont Drive Greenville, about 40 miles away. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.

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

Yes. County Environmental Health issues the permit, and the new well must be tested within 30 days of completion.

What does a well test cost near Nash County?

A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. County-collected samples sent to the State Laboratory are often cheaper.