Virginia county well guide

Well Water in Accomack County, VA: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 8,632 households in Accomack County, 65% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
65%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Accomack County65%
Virginia average23%
1licensed contractors serve the county
40+ mito a certified lab; mail-in kits recommended
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Most homes in Accomack County are on a private well: about 8,632 households, 65% of the county. That makes Accomack County one of the places in Virginia where the water department is the homeowner.

Local rules for wells in Accomack County

Private wells in Accomack County follow Virginia's statewide rules, administered by Virginia Department of Health, Office of Environmental Health Services, through the local health departments. A water test is required 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 wellRequired

Yes. A private well needs a construction permit from the local health department before drilling, must be built by a DPOR-licensed contractor with the Water Well/Pump specialty to the Private Well Regulations (grouted casing, setbacks of 50 ft from septic tanks and 100 ft from drainfields), and after completion the health department inspects it and requires a bacteriological sample that passes before the well is placed in service. The inspection statement is your record of the well.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. The Residential Property Disclosure Act does not require a water test. FHA, VA and USDA loans normally require a bacteria, nitrate and lead sample from a certified lab before closing, and buyers can ask the local health department for the well's construction permit and inspection file.

What the state recommends

The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program recommend a coliform bacteria test every year and nitrate at least every three years, with a broader first test for hardness, iron, manganese, pH, sodium, copper, lead, arsenic and fluoride. Add radon and uranium in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, sodium and chloride in Coastal Plain wells, and test again after flooding, well work or a change in taste, color or smell.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

The Virginia Household Water Quality Program (Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension) runs county drinking water clinics through the year: you pick up a kit from the Extension office, drop the sample back, and get results for 14 tests (bacteria, nitrate, metals, hardness, pH and more) with an interpretation meeting, for about $65, free in counties with grant funding. Local health departments and the VDACS regional animal health laboratories also run a bacteria test for a small fee.

Getting your water tested near Accomack County

No state-certified lab sits within 40 miles of the center of Accomack County. That is common in rural Virginia, and the practical answer is a mail-in kit: the lab ships bottles, you sample at the kitchen tap and ship them back cold. The finder below widens the search to the whole state.

No listings yet for this area. Try widening your search.

Licensed well contractors serving Accomack County

1 licensed contractor serve Accomack County, including Bundick Well & Pump Co. 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

Wells in Accomack County typically reach 100 to 300 ft in the Coastal Plain sands east of I-95; 200 to 500 ft in the fractured rock of the Piedmont; 150 to 400 ft in the limestone valleys of the Shenandoah and Valley and Ridge; 200 to 600 ft in the Blue Ridge and the southwest coalfields. What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer, and across Virginia the usual suspects are coliform bacteria (the most common failure statewide, worst in the piedmont and the valley), hardness (shenandoah valley and other limestone areas), iron and manganese (coastal plain and piedmont). 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 (the most common failure statewide
  • Worst in the Piedmont and the Valley)
  • Hardness (Shenandoah Valley and other limestone areas)
  • Iron and manganese (Coastal Plain and Piedmont)
  • Corrosive low-pH water that pulls lead and copper from plumbing (Piedmont and Blue Ridge)
  • Radon and uranium (Piedmont granite)
  • Sodium
  • Chloride and fluoride (deep Coastal Plain wells)
  • Nitrate (Shenandoah Valley farm country
  • Eastern Shore)
  • Arsenic (locally in the Coastal Plain)
  • PFAS near airfields and military bases

Neighboring counties: Northampton County, Northumberland County, Lancaster County, Mathews County.

What well work costs in Accomack 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 Accomack County well owners ask

How many homes in Accomack County are on a well?

About 8,632, or 65% 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 Accomack County?

There is no certified lab within 40 miles. Use a mail-in kit from a Virginia certified lab, or the county health department if it collects samples.

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

Yes. A private well needs a construction permit from the local health department before drilling, must be built by a DPOR-licensed contractor with the Water Well/Pump specialty to the Private Well Regulations (grouted casing, setbacks of 50 ft from septic tanks and 100 ft from drainfields), and after completion the health department inspects it and requires a bacteriological sample that passes before the well is placed in service. The inspection statement is your record of the well.

What does a well test cost near Accomack 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.