Tennessee county well guide

Well Water in Claiborne County, TN: Testing, Contractors and Rules

About 3,545 households in Claiborne County, 28% of the county, rely on a private well. Nobody tests that water unless the owner does.

Labs within 40 milesLicensed contractors
28%of households on a private well
Share on wells, county vs state
Claiborne County28%
Tennessee average9%
4licensed contractors serve the county
40+ mito a certified lab; mail-in kits recommended
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold

About one in 4 households in Claiborne County relies on a private well, around 3,545 homes. Outside the towns with public water, wells are the norm here.

Local rules for wells in Claiborne County

The rules that apply in Claiborne County are set at the state level in Tennessee. The state does not require a test on a new well, 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

Water test for a new wellNot required statewide

No statewide water test and no state permit for a household well. The Water Well Act requires the well to be drilled by a TDEC-licensed water well driller to the rule 0400-45-09 construction standards (steel casing at least 19 ft deep or into bedrock, grouted, ending 6 in above grade with a sanitary seal; 50 ft from septic tanks and drainfields, 10 ft from property lines), and the driller must file a well report with TDEC within 30 days. A few counties permit wells through the county health department, Shelby County most notably, and lenders usually want a bacteria test on a new well.

Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide

No statewide requirement. The Tennessee Residential Property Condition Disclosure asks only whether the water supply is a well and whether the seller knows of problems. FHA, VA and USDA loans normally require a bacteria, nitrate and lead sample from a certified lab before closing.

What the state recommends

TDEC and the Department of Health recommend testing a private well for coliform bacteria every year, and for nitrate, pH, hardness, iron, manganese, lead and copper at least once and again every few years. Add radon and uranium in East Tennessee bedrock wells, arsenic on the Highland Rim and in West Tennessee sands, pesticides in shallow Coastal Plain wells, and test again after flooding, well work or a change in taste, color or smell. Karst wells in Middle and East Tennessee should be retested after heavy rain, when bacteria and turbidity spike.

Free or low-cost testingAvailable

No statewide free program. The Department of Health laboratory in Nashville (and the Knoxville regional laboratory for East Tennessee) tests private well and spring samples for bacteria, nitrate and metals for a modest fee; bottles and forms come through the county health department or the laboratory (615-262-6337). Some county health departments and UT Extension offices run periodic screening days.

Getting your water tested near Claiborne County

Claiborne 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.

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Licensed well contractors serving Claiborne County

Licensed help in Claiborne County includes Brian David Dobbs and R & R Drilling Inc and 2 others. Every listing was matched to the Tennessee license list; the "verify" link on each profile opens the state lookup.

Well depth and water chemistry

Well depth and water chemistry in Claiborne County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 200 to 400 feet; the median of 1,231 residential and farm wells reported to TDEC since 2000 is 300 feet. Contaminants worth testing for in this part of Tennessee include coliform bacteria (the most common failure statewide, worst in karst limestone wells that draw surface water after rain), nitrate (farm counties and shallow west tennessee wells), hardness (limestone across middle and east tennessee).

Typical well depth

200 to 400 feet; the median of 1,231 residential and farm wells reported to TDEC since 2000 is 300 feet

Contaminants to test for
  • Coliform bacteria (the most common failure statewide
  • Worst in karst limestone wells that draw surface water after rain)
  • Nitrate (farm counties and shallow West Tennessee wells)
  • Hardness (limestone across Middle and East Tennessee)
  • Iron and manganese (West Tennessee sands
  • The Cumberland Plateau and shale wells)
  • Hydrogen sulfide (shale and deeper limestone wells)
  • Turbidity after storms (karst wells)
  • Acidic corrosive water that pulls lead and copper from plumbing (Plateau sandstone and Blue Ridge wells)
  • Radon and uranium (East Tennessee crystalline rock and black shale)
  • Arsenic (locally on the Highland Rim and in West Tennessee)
  • PFAS near airfields and industrial sites

Neighboring counties: Grainger County, Union County, Hancock County, Hamblen County.

What well work costs in Claiborne 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 Claiborne County well owners ask

How many homes in Claiborne County are on a well?

About 3,545, or 28% 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 Claiborne County?

There is no certified lab within 40 miles. Use a mail-in kit from a Tennessee certified lab, or the county health department if it collects samples.

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

No statewide water test and no state permit for a household well. The Water Well Act requires the well to be drilled by a TDEC-licensed water well driller to the rule 0400-45-09 construction standards (steel casing at least 19 ft deep or into bedrock, grouted, ending 6 in above grade with a sanitary seal; 50 ft from septic tanks and drainfields, 10 ft from property lines), and the driller must file a well report with TDEC within 30 days. A few counties permit wells through the county health department, Shelby County most notably, and lenders usually want a bacteria test on a new well.

What does a well test cost near Claiborne 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.