Well Water in Scioto County, OH: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 556 households in Scioto County, 2% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.
Wells are the exception in Scioto County: about 556 households, under 2% of the county, are on a private well. Being in the minority means less local help, so this page gathers what applies.
Local rules for wells in Scioto County
The rules that apply in Scioto County are set at the state level in Ohio. New wells must be tested before use, and nothing is required at sale. Some counties and townships add permits or setbacks of their own, so check locally before drilling. The state's own recommendations are below.
At a glance
Under OAC 3701-28 a permit from the local health district is required before a well is drilled or altered. When the work is done, the owner asks the health district for the final inspection, and a sanitarian collects the water sample: total coliform, E. coli and nitrate. The system is approved only when the sample passes (4 or fewer total coliform per 100 mL and no E. coli for a well without continuous disinfection).
No statewide requirement. Most local health districts offer a real-estate evaluation of the well on request (a visual inspection plus a bacteria and nitrate sample), and some lenders ask for one. Ask the county health district for its fee and turnaround.
ODH recommends a total coliform and nitrate test every year, and every time the water changes in taste, color or smell, after flooding, or after any work on the well or pump. Add arsenic, iron and manganese, hardness and sulfate at least once, and PFAS or methane where local conditions call for it.
No statewide free program. Several county health districts run their own labs (Erie, Logan, Mahoning, Canton City among them) and sell bacteria and nitrate tests at cost; others sell bottles from a certified lab. OSU Extension fact sheet AEX-315 lists labs that accept samples from homeowners.
Getting your water tested near Scioto County
Scioto County has no certified lab within 40 miles, so most owners here test by mail. Order bottles from a certified lab, sample from the cold tap before any treatment, and ship the same day with an ice pack.
No listings yet for this area. Try widening your search.
Licensed well contractors serving Scioto County
No licensed contractor lists Scioto 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
Well depth and water chemistry in Scioto County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 50 to 200 ft in glacial sand and gravel; 100 to 400 ft in bedrock in the east and south. Contaminants worth testing for in this part of Ohio include coliform bacteria, nitrate (northwest and central farm counties), arsenic (glacial aquifers in northwest and central ohio), iron.
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
- Coliform bacteria
- Nitrate (northwest and central farm counties)
- Arsenic (glacial aquifers in northwest and central Ohio)
- Iron
- Manganese
- Hardness
- Sulfate and hydrogen sulfide (eastern shale and coal country)
- Radium and uranium (some sandstone and shale wells)
- Methane (near oil and gas fields)
Neighboring counties: Pike County, Jackson County, Lawrence County, Adams County.
What well work costs in Scioto County
National ranges from published 2025 to 2026 contractor pricing. Local quotes vary with depth, access and materials.
Questions Scioto County well owners ask
How many homes in Scioto County are on a well?
About 556, or 2% 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 Scioto County?
There is no certified lab within 40 miles. Use a mail-in kit from a Ohio certified lab, or the county health department if it collects samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Scioto County?
Under OAC 3701-28 a permit from the local health district is required before a well is drilled or altered. When the work is done, the owner asks the health district for the final inspection, and a sanitarian collects the water sample: total coliform, E. coli and nitrate. The system is approved only when the sample passes (4 or fewer total coliform per 100 mL and no E. coli for a well without continuous disinfection).
What does a well test cost near Scioto 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.