About this list
- Agency
- Florida Department of Health (DOH) - Environmental Laboratory Certification Program (NELAP)
- Format
- Qlik Sense app (DEP-hosted, DOH data, refreshed weekly): Export Table of the Analyte Search with Matrix = Drinking Water + Organization Name and Location Search, analyte-level
- Homeowner flag
- Not stated per lab. Marked yes only for DOH's Bureau of Public Health Laboratories in Jacksonville and Miami (DOH's Well Water Testing page: "Testing is provided at the Jacksonville and Miami laboratories", "$40 for private testing through BPHL"). DEP's Laboratory page, which links this list, tells the public to "contact only commercial laboratories from the results, as utility, university, research, and state laboratories do not accept public samples"; that is a general rule (DOH's own BPHL labs are state labs that do test private wells), so it is quoted on each non-commercial lab, not used as the flag.
Certified as ofDOH Version: 11/07/2026 08:30:01 (Qlik app refresh 11/9/2026 4:26:47 AM; live database)
Florida DOH - Laboratories Certified Under NELAP (DEP Qlik app): Analyte Search + Organization Name and Location Search, Matrix = Drinking Water, Certification Status = Accredited, Active labs. Fetched 2026-11-15 (UTC).
Official sourceTesting your well in Florida
How often to test
- The Florida Department of Health (DOH) strongly recommends testing private wells for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year, and says most homeowners should test for lead every three years. Depending on land use nearby, your county health department may suggest other tests. [1]
Free testing
We found no statewide free testing program in Florida. Ask your county health department whether it runs one.
Testing programs and help
- Your county health department can tell you how to collect well samples and have them tested, usually for $20-30 per sample. In some cases staff can collect the samples at your home for an extra $30-40 per visit. It can also help you understand the results. [1]
- Through the Well Surveillance Program, run by DOH and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), county health department staff find and sample drinking water wells near known or suspected contamination. Private wells found above drinking water standards are offered help from DEP's Water Supply Restoration Funding Program, usually a filter or a connection to public water. [2]
- In some cases, your county health department may be able to test for certain toxic substances free of charge. Ask whether it recommends any tests besides bacteria and nitrate. [1]
State lab and rules
- The DOH Bureau of Public Health Laboratories tests well water for E. coli and coliforms at its Jacksonville and Miami labs. Collection kits come from a county health department, and results take about 48 hours. [3]
- DOH's Environmental Laboratory Certification Program certifies labs that test drinking water and other samples. [4]
What testing costs at the state lab
Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories well water testing page (no effective date printed; page last modified Jun 9, 2026)
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Bacteria (E. coli and coliforms), private testing through the state lab | $40 |
Prices as published when we checked on 2 Nov 2026. Private certified labs set their own prices.
Show the numbers
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 0 counties | |
| Zone 2 | 9 counties | |
| Zone 3 | 58 counties |
Radon in indoor air, not in water. EPA: Zone 1 = highest potential (average indoor radon may be above 4 pCi/L); Zone 2 = 2 to 4; Zone 3 = below 2. EPA says the map should not be used to decide whether an individual home needs testing. Source: U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025), accessed 2026-11-01.
Sources
- Florida Department of Health, Private well water testing
- Florida Department of Health, Well Surveillance Program
- Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories, Well water testing
- Florida Department of Health, Environmental laboratories (Environmental Laboratory Certification Program)
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025)
Loan test (FHA, VA, USDA) in Florida
- VA. Test results are valid for 90 days from the date the local health authority certifies them, unless the local authority says otherwise. VA’s chapter names no list of contaminants: the water must meet the local health authority’s requirements, or EPA guidelines where it has none. Your lender may ask for specific tests.
- FHA. A well test is required in the situations FHA’s handbook lists, among others, and the report may not be more than 180 days old at disbursement.
- USDA. Guaranteed loans need a water quality test for a private well, done by the local health authority or a state-certified lab, and no more than 180 days old at closing.
Lenders can ask for more (extra tests, a particular lab, who takes the sample): ask your lender before you book. Federal rules as read on Nov 3, 2026 source 1 source 2 source 3. Full comparison: VA, FHA and USDA well water test requirements. Loan test kits sold by mail, with price and days to results: kits compared.
What Florida labs say on their own websites
State lists say what a lab is certified for, not whether it takes your sample or what it costs. We read each lab’s own site; a second reader re-checked every fact below. 36 labs on this list are on our register so far; 15 say they take homeowner samples and 9 print a price.
| Lab | Bacteria (coliform / E. coli) | Nitrate | Arsenic | Lead | Basic well panel | Home sale / loan package | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOH-EPH Orange Water Testing Laboratory Orlando, FL · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | bring a sample to our office for a $49 coliform bacteria testing fee source $44 for a Fecal Coliform source | $62 fee for Nitrate source | – | you may submit a water sample for testing to our office. The test results take 2 weeks to complete. $51 fee for Lead source | – | – | The test results take 2 weeks to complete. |
| Escambia County Water Quality Laboratory Pensacola, FL · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Bacteria tests cost $30 per sample. This price includes a bottle kit source | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| FL Department of Health - Miami Branch Laboratory Miami, FL · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Cost $40 for private testing through BPHL; $17 for county health departments source | – | – | – | – | – | Processing Time 48 hours |
| FL Dept. of Health - Columbia County Health Department Lake City, FL · You collect it, or lab staff can | The fee for a water sample is $30. source | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| FL Dept. of Health - Hendry County Environmental Laboratory LaBelle, FL · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Micro-bacteriological Analysis: Total Coliform Fecal Coliform Fee $20.00 per bottle source | – | – | – | – | – | Sample results will be available the day following submittal at 4:45 p.m. |
| FL Dept. of Health - Indian River County Health Department Vero Beach, FL · You collect it, or lab staff can | The sample(s) can then be tested onsite for a fee of $35 per sample. source | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Florida DOH Bureau of Labs - Environmental Microbiology Jacksonville, FL · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | $40 for private testing through BPHL source | – | – | – | – | – | Processing Time: 48 hours |
| Jupiter Environmental Laboratories, Inc. Jupiter, FL · You collect it, or lab staff can | – | – | – | – | Healthy Home Package #1. ....$255.00 source Healthy Home Package #2. ....$320.00 source | – | – |
| Lee County Environmental Laboratory Ft. Myers, FL · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Coliform Bacteria (Presence/Absence) Their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in your water system. $25.00 source | Total NO 3 (Nitrate) + NO 2 (Nitrite) Comes from runoff of fertilizers, leaking septic tanks, sewage ... $18.00 source | Well Water ... Arsenic Arsenic is a naturally occurring contaminant in water ... maximum contaminant level is 10 µg/L (ppb) $25.00 source | Recommended Tests and Fees for Older Homes (Built Before 1990) Lead No amount of lead in drinking water is safe ... $25.00 source | – | – | Our posted turn around time is 3 weeks. However, under normal conditions with our current testing demand we can usually turn around most tests in 1 ½ to 2 weeks. |
Say they take homeowner samples: Central Florida Water Testing LLC DBA Plant Technicians, DOH-EPH Orange Water Testing Laboratory, Escambia County Water Quality Laboratory, Everglades Laboratories, Inc., FDOH Environmental Laboratory West Palm Beach, FL Department of Health - Miami Branch Laboratory, FL Dept. of Health - Alachua County Health Department, FL Dept. of Health - Columbia County Health Department, FL Dept. of Health - Hendry County Environmental Laboratory, FL Dept. of Health - Indian River County Health Department, FL Dept. of Health - Lee County Health Department, Florida DOH Bureau of Labs - Environmental Microbiology, Jupiter Environmental Laboratories, Inc., Lee County Environmental Laboratory, The Water Shed Laboratories, Inc..
Prices exactly as each lab prints them, read 14 Nov 2026; re-checked every 90 days. Labs not shown have not been read yet or print nothing for homeowners. Confirm price and turnaround with the lab.
Labs by contaminant
Labs on the Florida list for one test, with homeowner-accepting labs first.
Well water by county
Private-well population (USGS, 2015), arsenic estimate, radon zone and nearby labs for each county with at least 1,000 people on private wells, largest first.
Lee County175,837 on wellsDuval County144,322 on wellsMarion County141,161 on wellsHillsborough County126,523 on wellsPalm Beach County120,498 on wellsOsceola County89,861 on wellsPasco County80,206 on wellsLake County74,387 on wellsClay County73,699 on wellsVolusia County71,894 on wellsOrange County70,553 on wellsMiami-Dade County64,372 on wellsCollier County61,710 on wellsPolk County58,822 on wellsSt. Johns County54,445 on wellsAlachua County52,324 on wellsPutnam County51,502 on wellsBrevard County47,929 on wellsColumbia County47,284 on wellsLeon County47,198 on wellsCitrus County44,269 on wellsSarasota County42,600 on wellsHernando County38,855 on wellsSuwannee County35,768 on wellsLevy County31,667 on wellsJackson County31,443 on wellsNassau County31,235 on wellsSt. Lucie County29,372 on wellsSeminole County25,267 on wellsBay County23,923 on wellsManatee County23,676 on wellsBaker County20,990 on wellsSanta Rosa County20,407 on wellsEscambia County20,270 on wellsBradford County19,746 on wellsDeSoto County19,508 on wellsSumter County19,300 on wellsWakulla County18,240 on wellsHighlands County17,296 on wellsOkaloosa County16,361 on wellsOkeechobee County16,142 on wellsWashington County16,071 on wellsGilchrist County15,234 on wellsGadsden County14,631 on wellsCharlotte County14,407 on wellsHendry County13,939 on wellsMadison County13,471 on wellsDixie County13,405 on wellsUnion County13,314 on wellsHolmes County13,254 on wellsHardee County11,651 on wellsMartin County11,645 on wellsTaylor County11,601 on wellsCalhoun County10,097 on wellsFlagler County9,853 on wellsHamilton County9,643 on wellsPinellas County9,425 on wellsIndian River County9,098 on wellsJefferson County8,811 on wellsBroward County7,853 on wellsLafayette County7,447 on wellsWalton County7,373 on wellsGlades County6,685 on wellsLiberty County4,852 on wellsMonroe County3,276 on wellsGulf County1,588 on wells