Beacham Laboratory- Division of Environmental
NC certified
- Coliform Bacteria
North Carolina county well guide
Well Water in Jones County, NC: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 200 households in Jones County, 5% 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
1licensed contractors serve the county
20 mito the nearest certified lab, Beacham Laboratory- Division of Environmental
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
About 200 homes in Jones County are on a private well. That is 5% of households, enough that every township has well owners and few of them have had the water tested recently.
Local rules for wells in Jones County
In North Carolina the county is the front door: Jones County Environmental Health permits the well, requires the 30-day test on a new well, and will collect a sample for the State Laboratory of Public Health for a county fee. The state’s testing schedule is in the cards below.
At a glance
Water test for a new wellRequired
Every newly constructed private well must be tested within 30 days of completion by the State Laboratory of Public Health or a certified lab before it is used for drinking water.
Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide
No statewide requirement at sale. Lenders (FHA, VA, USDA) usually require a test.
What the state recommends
Every year: total and fecal coliform bacteria plus a wellhead inspection. Every 2 years: heavy metals, nitrate and nitrite, lead and copper. Every 5 years: pesticides and volatile organic compounds. Retest after repairs, flooding, a change in water quality, or when an infant or pregnant person is in the home.
Free or low-cost testingAvailable
County health departments collect samples and send them to the State Laboratory of Public Health at set fees that vary by county (often $30 to $100 per panel).
Getting your water tested near Jones County
The nearest certified lab is Beacham Laboratory- Division of Environmental in Windmill Way Jacksonville, about 20 miles from the county center. There is one more within 40 miles, listed below with what each tests for.
2 certified labs within 40 miles
Eurofins Greenville
NC certified
- Arsenic
- Coliform Bacteria
- Hardness
- Iron and Manganese
- Nitrate / Nitrite
- Pesticides
- Uranium
- Volatile Organic Compounds
Licensed well contractors serving Jones County
Licensed help in Jones County includes Quinn’s Well Drilling. Every listing was matched to the North Carolina license list; the “verify” link on each profile opens the state lookup.
1 licensed contractors
Quinn’s Well Drilling
Verified license
License 2616 Active
- Geothermal
- Irrigation Wells
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
- Well Abandonment
- Well Drilling
- Well Repair
Well depth and water chemistry
Well depth and water chemistry in Jones County follow the rock underneath it. Depth varies across the county; the state well record search shows logs for nearby wells.
Typical well depth
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
Contaminants to test for
- Lead
- Arsenic
- Iron
- Manganese
- Low pH (corrosive water)
- Coliform bacteria
- Radon
Neighboring counties: Craven County, Onslow County, Lenoir County, Pamlico County.
What well work costs in Jones County
Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$75published North Carolina lab fees
Nitrate test$75published North Carolina lab fees
Broad panel (metals and minerals)$175published North Carolina lab fees
Well inspection$250 to $550$350 to $900 with water testing
Submersible pump replacement$1,000 to $2,500installed; deep wells cost more
Pressure tank replacement$800 to $1,500installed
One treatment unit$700 to $3,500softener, iron filter or UV, installed
Multi-stage whole-house treatment$2,500 to $10,000+several units or whole-house RO, installed
New well, complete$6,000 to $16,000typical 200 ft well with pump; drilling alone about $20 to $30 per foot; deeper wells cost more
Shock chlorination$80 to $200by a contractor; under $30 to do yourself
County health departments set their own fees: $75 per kit in Moore County; $175 first-timer package in Wake County, plus a $50 trip fee if staff collect. Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: Moore County fee schedule, Wake County well water testing, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.
Questions Jones County well owners ask
How many homes in Jones County are on a well?
About 200, or 5% 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 Jones County?
Beacham Laboratory- Division of Environmental in Windmill Way Jacksonville, about 20 miles away. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Jones County?
Yes. County Environmental Health issues the permit, and the new well must be tested within 30 days of completion.
What does a well test cost near Jones County?
A bacteria and nitrate test runs $25 to $75 at most certified labs; a full panel with metals is $150 to $400. County-collected samples sent to the State Laboratory are often cheaper.