New York county well guide

Well Water in Orleans County, NY: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 4,564 households in Orleans County, 27% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
27%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Orleans County27%
New York average25%
0licensed contractors serve the county
33 mito the nearest certified lab, Monroe County Environmental Laboratory
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Orleans County has an estimated 4,564 households on private wells, 27% of the county. If you are one of them, testing, treatment and repairs are yours to arrange.

Local rules for wells in Orleans County

Private wells in Orleans County follow New York's statewide rules, administered by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. No water test is required by the state when a new well is completed. There is no statewide test requirement when a home is sold, though lenders often ask for one. The cards below show the details and the official sources.

At a glance

Water test for a new wellNot required statewide

No single statewide rule. The driller must be DEC-registered, file a preliminary notice before drilling, disinfect the finished well under NYSDOH Appendix 5-B, and send a well completion report to DEC and to you within 30 days. NYSDOH says a new well should be tested before use for coliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, arsenic, lead, iron, manganese, sodium, hardness, pH and turbidity. Many county health departments (Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Suffolk and others) require a permit and a passing water test before a new well can be used.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. A few counties and towns require a well test or well inspection when a property changes hands, and FHA, VA and USDA loans usually ask for a bacteria and nitrate test. Check with the county health department.

What the state recommends

NYSDOH recommends a coliform bacteria test every year, plus a first-time panel of nitrate, nitrite, arsenic, lead, iron, manganese, sodium, sulfate, hardness, pH, alkalinity and turbidity, then periodic re-testing of whatever showed up. Add radon, uranium, methane or PFAS where they are known in your area.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

No statewide free program. Several county health departments run their own ELAP-certified labs and sell low-cost bacteria and nitrate tests (Erie, Monroe, Suffolk, Nassau, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Allegany). Others keep a list of local certified labs.

Getting your water tested near Orleans County

6 certified labs within 40 miles serve Orleans County, starting with Monroe County Environmental Laboratory in Rochester (about 33 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.

6 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Orleans County

No licensed contractor lists Orleans County as a home base or service area yet. The finder below searches the whole state; most drillers travel several counties for a job.

Well depth and water chemistry

Wells in Orleans County typically reach 100 to 400 ft in bedrock across most of upstate; 30 to 150 ft in glacial sand and gravel valleys and on Long Island feet. What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer, and across New York the usual suspects are coliform bacteria, nitrate (farm valleys and older septic areas), arsenic (parts of central and western new york), iron and manganese. 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
  • Coliform bacteria
  • Nitrate (farm valleys and older septic areas)
  • Arsenic (parts of central and western New York)
  • Iron and manganese
  • Hardness (limestone country)
  • Sodium and chloride (road salt)
  • Sulfate and hydrogen sulfide (shale areas)
  • Radon and uranium (Southern Tier and Adirondack bedrock)
  • Methane (Southern Tier shale)
  • PFAS (Hoosick Falls
  • Newburgh and other hot spots)
  • Barium and fluoride (western New York)

Neighboring counties: Genesee County, Monroe County, Niagara County, Wyoming County.

What well work costs in Orleans 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 Orleans County well owners ask

How many homes in Orleans County are on a well?

About 4,564, or 27% 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 Orleans County?

Monroe County Environmental Laboratory in Rochester, about 33 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.

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

No single statewide rule. The driller must be DEC-registered, file a preliminary notice before drilling, disinfect the finished well under NYSDOH Appendix 5-B, and send a well completion report to DEC and to you within 30 days. NYSDOH says a new well should be tested before use for coliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, arsenic, lead, iron, manganese, sodium, hardness, pH and turbidity. Many county health departments (Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Suffolk and others) require a permit and a passing water test before a new well can be used.

What does a well test cost near Orleans 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.