Indiana county well guide

Well Water in Greene County, IN: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 2,518 households in Greene County, 19% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
19%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Greene County19%
Indiana average25%
7licensed contractors serve the county
20 mito the nearest certified lab, BBP Water Corp
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Greene County has an estimated 2,518 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 Greene County

Private wells in Greene County follow Indiana's statewide rules, administered by Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Water. 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 statewide water test. The state requires the well to be drilled by a DNR-licensed water well driller to the 312 IAC 13 construction standards (setbacks of 50 ft from septic tanks and drainfields, grouted casing, disinfection) and a well record filed with the Division of Water within 30 days. Most county health departments require a well permit under the county ordinance before drilling and many ask for a bacteriological sample before the well is approved for use, so check with the county first.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. The Indiana seller's disclosure form asks whether the water supply is a well and whether there are known problems, nothing more. FHA, VA and USDA loans normally require a bacteria, nitrate and lead sample from a certified lab before closing, and a few county health departments require a well inspection at transfer.

What the state recommends

The Indiana Department of Health recommends testing a private well for coliform bacteria and nitrate every year and running a broader panel every few years or when something changes: arsenic (common in Indiana's glacial aquifers), iron, manganese, hardness, sulfate, sodium, lead and copper. Add radon, uranium and fluoride in south-central Indiana bedrock wells and PFAS near airfields and industrial sites, and test again after flooding, well work or a change in taste, color or smell.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

No statewide free program. The Indiana Department of Health laboratory and most county health departments test private well samples for bacteria and nitrate for a small fee (typically $20 to $40 a sample), and several counties run periodic free testing days or arsenic screening. The IDOH lab finder below lists the certified labs that take samples from the public.

Getting your water tested near Greene County

4 certified labs within 40 miles serve Greene County, starting with BBP Water Corp in Spencer (about 20 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.

4 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Greene County

7 licensed contractors serve Greene County, including Boone Water Systems Inc and Direct Push Analytical Corporation. 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 Greene County typically reach 50 to 150 ft in the glacial sand and gravel aquifers of northern and central Indiana; 100 to 300 ft into limestone and sandstone bedrock in the south-central and southwestern hills, where yields are lower and dry holes are common; 150 to 400 ft where the glacial cover is thin over shale. What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer, and across Indiana the usual suspects are arsenic (glacial aquifers across northern and central indiana, often above the federal limit), iron and manganese (nearly universal in glacial wells), hardness (statewide). 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
  • Arsenic (glacial aquifers across northern and central Indiana
  • Often above the federal limit)
  • Iron and manganese (nearly universal in glacial wells)
  • Hardness (statewide)
  • Nitrate (shallow wells in farm country and near feedlots)
  • Coliform bacteria (shallow
  • Dug and older wells)
  • Hydrogen sulfide and methane (glacial and shale wells)
  • Sulfate and sodium (deeper bedrock wells)
  • Fluoride and radon (south-central limestone and shale)
  • PFAS near airfields
  • Fire training sites and industrial areas

Neighboring counties: Owen County, Sullivan County, Daviess County, Monroe County.

What well work costs in Greene County

Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$15published Indiana lab fees
Nitrate test$10 to $15published Indiana lab fees
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

Certified lab drop-off through a county soil and water district ($15 each); the state lab runs nitrate for $10 plus shipping. Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: Hamilton County SWCD, Indiana Department of Health lab, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.

Questions Greene County well owners ask

How many homes in Greene County are on a well?

About 2,518, 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 Greene County?

BBP Water Corp in Spencer, about 20 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.

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

No statewide water test. The state requires the well to be drilled by a DNR-licensed water well driller to the 312 IAC 13 construction standards (setbacks of 50 ft from septic tanks and drainfields, grouted casing, disinfection) and a well record filed with the Division of Water within 30 days. Most county health departments require a well permit under the county ordinance before drilling and many ask for a bacteriological sample before the well is approved for use, so check with the county first.

What does a well test cost near Greene County?

Published lab fees in Indiana: $15 for a bacteria test and $10 to $15 for nitrate. Certified lab drop-off through a county soil and water district ($15 each); the state lab runs nitrate for $10 plus shipping. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.