Well Water in Ouray County, CO: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 488 households in Ouray County, 26% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
Ouray County has an estimated 488 households on private wells, 26% of the county. If you are one of them, testing, treatment and repairs are yours to arrange.
Local rules for wells in Ouray County
Colorado permits the well but not the water. In Ouray 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
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.
No statewide requirement. Lenders often require a test; some counties recommend one at transfer.
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.
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 Ouray County
No state-certified lab sits within 40 miles of the center of Ouray 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 Ouray County
No licensed contractor lists Ouray 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
What comes up with the water depends on the aquifer. A first full panel tells you which of them apply to your well.
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
- Uranium
- Radon
- Fluoride
- Nitrate
- Hardness
- Coliform bacteria
- Arsenic (some basins)
Neighboring counties: San Miguel County, San Juan County, Montrose County, Hinsdale County.
What well work costs in Ouray County
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Ouray County well owners ask
How many homes in Ouray County are on a well?
About 488, or 26% 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 Ouray 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 Ouray County?
Yes. A permit from the Colorado Division of Water Resources is required before any drilling.
What does a well test cost near Ouray 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.