Tennessee Tech University Water Center
TN certified
Homeowner samples
- Arsenic
- Coliform Bacteria
- Full Homeowner Panel
- Hardness
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
- Nitrate / Nitrite
Tennessee county well guide
Well Water in Overton County, TN: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 60 households in Overton County, 1% 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
4licensed contractors serve the county
16 mito the nearest certified lab, Tennessee Tech University Water Center
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
Wells are the exception in Overton County: about 60 households, under 1% 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 Overton County
The rules that apply in Overton 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 Overton County
The nearest certified lab is Tennessee Tech University Water Center in Cookeville, about 16 miles from the county center, and it accepts samples from homeowners. Mail-in kits fill the gap for anything it does not run.
1 certified labs within 40 miles
Licensed well contractors serving Overton County
Licensed help in Overton County includes C & F Water Well Drilling and Carr Drilling and 2 others. Every listing was matched to the Tennessee license list; the "verify" link on each profile opens the state lookup.
4 licensed contractors
C & F Water Well Drilling
Verified license
License 1195 Active
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
- Well Abandonment
- Well Drilling
- Well Repair
Carr Drilling
Verified license
License 714 Active
- Pump Installation
- Pump Repair
- Well Abandonment
- Well Drilling
- Well Repair
Mid-State Construction Co., Inc
Verified license
License 1091 Active
- Geothermal
Samuel Mills & Sons Drilling
Verified license
License 750 Active
- Well Abandonment
- Well Drilling
- Well Repair
Well depth and water chemistry
Well depth and water chemistry in Overton County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 150 to 340 feet; the median of 223 residential and farm wells reported to TDEC since 2000 is 220 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
150 to 340 feet; the median of 223 residential and farm wells reported to TDEC since 2000 is 220 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: Putnam County, Jackson County, Pickett County, Clay County.
What well work costs in Overton County
Bacteria test (coliform and E. coli)$40published Tennessee lab fees
Nitrate test$10 to $80varies by lab; ask when you order
Broad panel (metals and minerals)$125published Tennessee 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
Tennessee Tech Water Center: $40 bacteria, $125 basic package with bacteria, minerals and nitrate. Installed costs are national 2026 ranges; local quotes vary with depth, access and materials. Sources, checked September 2026: Tennessee Tech Water Center lab, HomeGuide cost guides, Angi: cost to shock a well.
Questions Overton County well owners ask
How many homes in Overton County are on a well?
About 60, or 1% 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 Overton County?
Tennessee Tech University Water Center in Cookeville, about 16 miles away. It accepts homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Overton 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 Overton County?
Published lab fees in Tennessee: $40 for a bacteria test. Tennessee Tech Water Center: $40 bacteria, $125 basic package with bacteria, minerals and nitrate. Mail-in kits cost about the same as walking in.