Great Lakes Water Quality Laboratory, Inc.
MI certified
- Coliform Bacteria
- Nitrate / Nitrite
Michigan county well guide
Well Water in Manistee County, MI: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 5,706 households in Manistee County, 58% 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
3licensed contractors serve the county
33 mito the nearest certified lab, Great Lakes Water Quality Laboratory, Inc.
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
Most homes in Manistee County are on a private well: about 5,706 households, 58% of the county. That makes Manistee County one of the places in Michigan where the water department is the homeowner.
Local rules for wells in Manistee County
Michigan’s well construction code applies in Manistee County, which means a permit from the local health department, an inspection, and a bacteria sample before use. Selling a home with a well may trigger a county point-of-sale program; the health department can confirm.
At a glance
Water test for a new wellRequired
Michigan requires new wells to be tested at installation under the well construction code (Part 127 of the Public Health Code). Local health departments issue the permit and require the sample.
Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide
No statewide requirement, but several counties run time-of-sale or point-of-sale well and septic evaluation programs. Check the county page.
What the state recommends
EGLE recommends testing for coliform bacteria, nitrate and nitrite, fluoride, chloride, sulfate, sodium, hardness, and metals including arsenic, lead, iron, manganese, copper, uranium and others. Bacteria and nitrate yearly; a full chemistry panel every few years or when water changes.
Free or low-cost testingAvailable
Eight county health departments run their own onsite labs (Washtenaw, Oakland, Kalamazoo, Saginaw, Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft). Residents elsewhere can order a mail-in test through the EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory.
Getting your water tested near Manistee County
1 certified lab within 40 miles serve Manistee County, starting with Great Lakes Water Quality Laboratory, Inc. in Lake Ann (about 25 miles from the county center). Each card below shows whether the lab takes homeowner samples and which tests it is certified for.
1 certified labs within 40 miles
Licensed well contractors serving Manistee County
3 licensed contractors serve Manistee County, including Edward Benson Well Drilling, LLC and G.M. Gonyon Water Wells 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.
3 licensed contractors
Edward Benson Well Drilling, LLC
Verified license
License 51-1603 Active
- Well Drilling
G.M. Gonyon Water Wells LLC
Verified license
License 51-2708 Active
- Well Drilling
Mike’s Well Service, LLC
Verified license
License 51-2725, 51-2725 Active
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
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
- Arsenic (southeast and thumb region)
- Nitrate (agricultural areas)
- Iron
- Manganese
- Hardness
- Coliform bacteria
- PFAS near known sites
Neighboring counties: Mason County, Benzie County, Lake County, Wexford County.
What well work costs in Manistee 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 Manistee County well owners ask
How many homes in Manistee County are on a well?
About 5,706, or 58% 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 Manistee County?
Great Lakes Water Quality Laboratory, Inc. in Lake Ann, about 25 miles away. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Manistee County?
Yes. The local health department issues the permit and inspects the well under the Michigan well construction code.
What does a well test cost near Manistee 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.