Colorado county well guide

Well Water in Garfield County, CO: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 5,138 households in Garfield County, 22% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
22%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Garfield County22%
Colorado average11%
5licensed contractors serve the county
40+ mito a certified lab; mail-in kits recommended
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Garfield County has an estimated 5,138 households on private wells, 22% of the county. If you are one of them, testing, treatment and repairs are yours to arrange.

Local rules for wells in Garfield County

Colorado permits the well but not the water. In Garfield 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 Garfield County

No state-certified lab sits within 40 miles of the center of Garfield 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 Garfield County

5 licensed contractors serve Garfield County, including High Call Well Services and High Country Pump Services. 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

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: Pitkin County, Eagle County, Delta County, Rio Blanco County.

What well work costs in Garfield 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 Garfield County well owners ask

How many homes in Garfield County are on a well?

About 5,138, or 22% 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 Garfield 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 Garfield County?

Yes. A permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources is required before any drilling.

What does a well test cost near Garfield 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.