Amerisci Richmond
NC certified
Virginia county well guide
Well Water in Nottoway County, VA: Testing, Contractors and Rules
About 2,138 households in Nottoway County, 34% 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
0licensed contractors serve the county
31 mito the nearest certified lab, Amerisci Richmond
Nostatewide test required when a home is sold
About one in 3 households in Nottoway County relies on a private well, around 2,138 homes. Outside the towns with public water, wells are the norm here.
Local rules for wells in Nottoway County
The rules that apply in Nottoway County are set at the state level in Virginia. 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
Water test for a new wellRequired
Yes. A private well needs a construction permit from the local health department before drilling, must be built by a DPOR-licensed contractor with the Water Well/Pump specialty to the Private Well Regulations (grouted casing, setbacks of 50 ft from septic tanks and 100 ft from drainfields), and after completion the health department inspects it and requires a bacteriological sample that passes before the well is placed in service. The inspection statement is your record of the well.
Water test when a home is soldNot required statewide
No statewide requirement. The Residential Property Disclosure Act does not require a water test. FHA, VA and USDA loans normally require a bacteria, nitrate and lead sample from a certified lab before closing, and buyers can ask the local health department for the well's construction permit and inspection file.
What the state recommends
The Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Household Water Quality Program recommend a coliform bacteria test every year and nitrate at least every three years, with a broader first test for hardness, iron, manganese, pH, sodium, copper, lead, arsenic and fluoride. Add radon and uranium in the Piedmont and Blue Ridge, sodium and chloride in Coastal Plain wells, and test again after flooding, well work or a change in taste, color or smell.
Free or low-cost testingAvailable
The Virginia Household Water Quality Program (Virginia Tech and Virginia Cooperative Extension) runs county drinking water clinics through the year: you pick up a kit from the Extension office, drop the sample back, and get results for 14 tests (bacteria, nitrate, metals, hardness, pH and more) with an interpretation meeting, for about $65, free in counties with grant funding. Local health departments and the VDACS regional animal health laboratories also run a bacteria test for a small fee.
Getting your water tested near Nottoway County
The nearest certified lab is Amerisci Richmond in Midlothian, about 31 miles from the county center. There are 5 more within 40 miles, listed below with what each tests for.
6 certified labs within 40 miles
B & B Consultants, Inc.
VA certified
- Coliform Bacteria
Environmental Hazards Services, L L C
VA certified
- Arsenic
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
Biotech Laboratory
VA certified
- Coliform Bacteria
Onterris Laboratories, LLC – Richmond
VA, PA, NC certified
- Arsenic
- Coliform Bacteria
- Hardness
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
- Nitrate / Nitrite
- Pesticides
- Uranium
- Volatile Organic Compounds
Environmental Hazards Services, LLC
NC certified
- Arsenic
- Iron and Manganese
Licensed well contractors serving Nottoway County
No licensed contractor lists Nottoway 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 Nottoway County follow the rock underneath it. Typical wells here run 100 to 300 ft in the Coastal Plain sands east of I-95; 200 to 500 ft in the fractured rock of the Piedmont; 150 to 400 ft in the limestone valleys of the Shenandoah and Valley and Ridge; 200 to 600 ft in the Blue Ridge and the southwest coalfields. Contaminants worth testing for in this part of Virginia include coliform bacteria (the most common failure statewide, worst in the piedmont and the valley), hardness (shenandoah valley and other limestone areas), iron and manganese (coastal plain and piedmont).
Typical well depth
Varies by location. Check the state well record search for logs of nearby wells.
Contaminants to test for
- Coliform bacteria (the most common failure statewide
- Worst in the Piedmont and the Valley)
- Hardness (Shenandoah Valley and other limestone areas)
- Iron and manganese (Coastal Plain and Piedmont)
- Corrosive low-pH water that pulls lead and copper from plumbing (Piedmont and Blue Ridge)
- Radon and uranium (Piedmont granite)
- Sodium
- Chloride and fluoride (deep Coastal Plain wells)
- Nitrate (Shenandoah Valley farm country
- Eastern Shore)
- Arsenic (locally in the Coastal Plain)
- PFAS near airfields and military bases
Neighboring counties: Lunenburg County, Amelia County, Prince Edward County, Cumberland County.
What well work costs in Nottoway 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 Nottoway County well owners ask
How many homes in Nottoway County are on a well?
About 2,138, or 34% 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 Nottoway County?
Amerisci Richmond in Midlothian, about 31 miles away. Call first to ask whether they accept homeowner samples.
Do I need a permit to drill a well in Nottoway County?
Yes. A private well needs a construction permit from the local health department before drilling, must be built by a DPOR-licensed contractor with the Water Well/Pump specialty to the Private Well Regulations (grouted casing, setbacks of 50 ft from septic tanks and 100 ft from drainfields), and after completion the health department inspects it and requires a bacteriological sample that passes before the well is placed in service. The inspection statement is your record of the well.
What does a well test cost near Nottoway 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.