Nobody else is testing your water. What you test for depends on your well, not a generic checklist.
On a municipal system, testing is somebody else's job. On a private well, it is the owner's, and it does not happen unless someone arranges it.
Coliform bacteria testing is a standard first check, particularly after any change to the well or after a household member has been unexpectedly ill. It is generally the fastest test to arrange.
Wells near farmland, livestock, or septic drain fields are the ones where nitrate testing tends to matter most, since nitrates can move through soil into groundwater from those sources.
Hard water, iron and other minerals do not usually pose a health concern but do affect plumbing, fixtures and appliances over time. If that is the concern, testing for hardness and mineral content points toward whether treatment is worth considering.
A change in taste, smell or color; nearby construction, flooding or a new septic system; buying a house with no testing history; or a health concern in the household are all reasons to test regardless of when the well was last checked.
There is no single interval that applies to every well — it depends on the aquifer, what is nearby, and the well's own history. Your county health department is the right source for local testing guidance rather than a generic rule of thumb.
A flagged result does not necessarily mean a major problem — some issues are addressed with a change in maintenance, others point toward water treatment. Where treatment is the answer, that is different work than what a well or pump contractor does, and you will be pointed toward that instead.
Describe the symptom and we will get you matched with a well or pump contractor who can actually look at it.
Get Matched With a Well ContractorA few details on when it started and what you've noticed — we will follow up to sort out what's actually going on.