SafeSource Water Analytics LLC
OH certified
- Coliform Bacteria
- Nitrate / Nitrite
Ohio county well guide
Well Water in Athens County, OH: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 5,716 households in Athens County, 22% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
0licensed contractors serve the county
25 mito the nearest certified lab, SafeSource Water Analytics LLC
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
About one in 5 households in Athens County relies on a private well, around 5,716 homes. Outside the towns with public water, wells are the norm here.
Local rules for wells in Athens County
The rules that apply in Athens County are set at the state level in Ohio. New wells must be tested before use, and nothing is required at sale. Some counties and townships add permits or setbacks of their own, so check locally before drilling. The state's own recommendations are below.
At a glance
Water test for a new wellRequired
Under OAC 3701-28 a permit from the local health district is required before a well is drilled or altered. When the work is done, the owner asks the health district for the final inspection, and a sanitarian collects the water sample: total coliform, E. coli and nitrate. The system is approved only when the sample passes (4 or fewer total coliform per 100 mL and no E. coli for a well without continuous disinfection).
Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide
No statewide requirement. Most local health districts offer a real-estate evaluation of the well on request (a visual inspection plus a bacteria and nitrate sample), and some lenders ask for one. Ask the county health district for its fee and turnaround.
What the state recommends
ODH recommends a total coliform and nitrate test every year, and every time the water changes in taste, color or smell, after flooding, or after any work on the well or pump. Add arsenic, iron and manganese, hardness and sulfate at least once, and PFAS or methane where local conditions call for it.
Free or low-cost testingAvailable
No statewide free program. Several county health districts run their own labs (Erie, Logan, Mahoning, Canton City among them) and sell bacteria and nitrate tests at cost; others sell bottles from a certified lab. OSU Extension fact sheet AEX-315 lists labs that accept samples from homeowners.
Getting your water tested near Athens County
The nearest certified lab is SafeSource Water Analytics LLC in McConnelsville, about 25 miles from the county center. There is one more within 40 miles, listed below with what it tests for.
2 certified labs within 40 miles
Microbac Laboratories, Inc. – Marietta Division
OH, PA certified
- Arsenic
- Hardness
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
- Nitrate / Nitrite
- PFAS
Licensed well contractors serving Athens County
No licensed contractor lists Athens County as a home base or service area yet. The finder below searches the whole state; most drillers travel several counties for a job.
No listings yet for this area. Try widening your search.
Well depth and water chemistry
Well depth and water chemistry in Athens County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 50 to 200 ft in glacial sand and gravel; 100 to 400 ft in bedrock in the east and south. Contaminants worth testing for in this part of Ohio include coliform bacteria, nitrate (northwest and central farm counties), arsenic (glacial aquifers in northwest and central ohio), iron.
Typical well depth
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
Contaminants to test for
- Coliform bacteria
- Nitrate (northwest and central farm counties)
- Arsenic (glacial aquifers in northwest and central Ohio)
- Iron
- Manganese
- Hardness
- Sulfate and hydrogen sulfide (eastern shale and coal country)
- Radium and uranium (some sandstone and shale wells)
- Methane (near oil and gas fields)
Neighboring counties: Meigs County, Hocking County, Morgan County, Vinton County.
What well work costs in Athens County
Basic bacteria and nitrate test$25 to $75lab fee, homeowner sample
Full panel lab test$150 to $400metals, VOCs, radiologicals
Well inspection$250 to $550flow, pressure, visual, water test
Submersible pump replacement$1,200 to $4,500parts and labor
Pressure tank replacement$400 to $1,200installed
Whole-house treatment system$800 to $6,000softener, iron filter, UV, RO
New well drilled$5,500 to $25,000about $25 to $65 per foot
Shock chlorination$80 to $300or about $20 as a DIY job
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Athens County well owners ask
How many homes in Athens County are on a well?
About 5,716, or 22% 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 Athens County?
SafeSource Water Analytics LLC in McConnelsville, about 25 miles away. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Athens County?
Under OAC 3701-28 a permit from the local health district is required before a well is drilled or altered. When the work is done, the owner asks the health district for the final inspection, and a sanitarian collects the water sample: total coliform, E. coli and nitrate. The system is approved only when the sample passes (4 or fewer total coliform per 100 mL and no E. coli for a well without continuous disinfection).
What does a well test cost near Athens 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.