Quality Drilling Inc.
Verified license
License 1605 Active
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
- Well Drilling
Colorado county well guide
Well Water in Dolores County, CO: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 411 households in Dolores County, 52% 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
2licensed contractors serve the county
40+ mito a certified lab; mail-in kits recommended
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
Most homes in Dolores County are on a private well: about 411 households, 52% of the county. That makes Dolores County one of the places in Colorado where the water department is the homeowner.
Local rules for wells in Dolores County
Colorado permits the well but not the water. In Dolores County that means a DWR permit and a licensed driller, and no required water test at any point. The state’s recommendations and the free PFAS program are below.
At a glance
Water test for a new wellNot required statewide
A DWR well permit is required before drilling and contractors must notify DWR before construction, but no water quality test is required by the state.
Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide
No statewide requirement. Lenders often require a test; some counties recommend one at transfer.
What the state recommends
CDPHE recommends yearly testing for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and a broader panel (metals, uranium, radon, fluoride, hardness) every few years. Colorado groundwater commonly has naturally occurring uranium, radon and fluoride.
Free or low-cost testingAvailable
Colorado offers a free PFAS testing program for private wells. Several county health departments (Weld, El Paso, La Plata, Mesa, Pueblo, Routt, Gilpin, Northeast Colorado) run certified labs that accept homeowner samples.
Getting your water tested near Dolores County
No state-certified lab sits within 40 miles of the center of Dolores County. That is common in rural Colorado, 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 Dolores County
2 licensed contractors serve Dolores County, including Quality Drilling Inc. and Ucolo Drilling LLC. 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.
2 licensed contractors
Ucolo Drilling LLC
Verified license
License 1457 Active
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
- Well Drilling
Well depth and water chemistry
What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer. 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
- Uranium
- Radon
- Fluoride
- Nitrate
- Hardness
- Coliform bacteria
- Arsenic (some basins)
Neighboring counties: Montezuma County, San Miguel County, San Juan County, La Plata County.
What well work costs in Dolores 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 Dolores County well owners ask
How many homes in Dolores County are on a well?
About 411, or 52% 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 Dolores County?
There is no certified lab within 40 miles. Use a mail-in kit from a Colorado certified lab, or the county health department if it collects samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Dolores County?
Yes. A permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources is required before any drilling.
What does a well test cost near Dolores County?
A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. County health department labs charge less than commercial labs, and PFAS testing is free through the state.