Indiana county well guide

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

About 4,678 households in Decatur County, 44% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
44%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Decatur County44%
Indiana average25%
2licensed contractors serve the county
24 mito the nearest certified lab, Element Laboratories – Columbus
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

Most homes in Decatur County are on a private well: about 4,678 households, 44% of the county. That makes Decatur County one of the places in Indiana where the water department is the homeowner.

Local rules for wells in Decatur County

Private wells in Decatur 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 Decatur County

3 certified labs within 40 miles serve Decatur County, starting with Element Laboratories – Columbus in Columbus (about 24 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.

3 certified labs within 40 miles

Licensed well contractors serving Decatur County

2 licensed contractors serve Decatur County, including Remmler Well Drilling LLC and Richard’s Resource Development. 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 Decatur 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: Ripley County, Rush County, Shelby County, Bartholomew County.

What well work costs in Decatur 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 Decatur County well owners ask

How many homes in Decatur County are on a well?

About 4,678, or 44% 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 Decatur County?

Element Laboratories – Columbus in Columbus, about 24 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.

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

A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.