Spotsylvania County Laboratory Services
VA certified
Homeowner samples
- Coliform Bacteria
- Nitrate / Nitrite
Virginia county well guide
Well Water in King George County, VA: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 1,905 households in King George County, 19% 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
22 mito the nearest certified lab, Spotsylvania County Laboratory Services
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
King George County has an estimated 1,905 households on private wells, 19% of the county. If you are one of them, testing, treatment and repairs are yours to arrange.
Local rules for wells in King George County
Private wells in King George 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 King George County
6 certified labs within 40 miles serve King George County, starting with Spotsylvania County Laboratory Services in Fredericksburg (about 22 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.
5 certified labs within 40 miles
Mid-Atlantic Laboratories, Inc.
VA, NC certified
- Coliform Bacteria
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
- Nitrate / Nitrite
Water Testing Labs of Virginia
VA certified
- Coliform Bacteria
Fairfax County Health Department Joanne Jorgenson Laboratory
VA certified
Homeowner samples
- Arsenic
- Coliform Bacteria
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
- Nitrate / Nitrite
HP Environmental, Inc.
VA certified
- Coliform Bacteria
- Lead
Licensed well contractors serving King George County
No licensed contractor lists King George 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
Wells in King George 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: City of Fredericksburg, Stafford County, Westmoreland County, Spotsylvania County.
What well work costs in King George County
Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$70published Virginia lab fees
Nitrate testIncludedpart of the bacteria test above
Broad panel (metals and minerals)$85 to $450state and university lab packages
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
Virginia Household Water Quality Program clinics: $70 covers 14 tests including bacteria and nitrate. Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: Henrico County, 2026 clinic, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.
Questions King George County well owners ask
How many homes in King George County are on a well?
About 1,905, or 19% 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 King George County?
Spotsylvania County Laboratory Services in Fredericksburg, about 22 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in King George 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 King George County?
Published lab fees in Virginia: $70 for a bacteria test that also covers nitrate. Virginia Household Water Quality Program clinics: $70 covers 14 tests including bacteria and nitrate. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.