About this list
- Agency
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) - Laboratory Services, Water Laboratory Certification Program
- Format
- HTML list on the program page: labs by certification category (Chemistry - Asbestos; Chemistry - Inorganic and Organic; Chemistry - Inorganic only; Radiologic only; Microbiology), Montana and out-of-state; no analytes, certificate numbers or expiry dates
- Homeowner flag
- Yes for the DPHHS State Environmental Laboratory: its page says "We provide analytical, consulting, and training services to the general public" and offers Private Well Testing packages (chemistry, microbiology). Not stated for the other labs: DPHHS's list is of labs certified to analyze Montana's public drinking water supplies.
Certified as ofpage as fetched 2026-11-15 (no date printed)
Montana DPHHS Water Laboratory Certification Program - Certified Laboratories. Fetched 2026-11-15 (UTC).
Official sourceTesting your well in Montana
How often to test
- MSU Extension's Well Educated program calls a bacteria (coliform and E. coli) and nitrate test the minimum test recommended for all private well owners every year. For people who have not tested in recent years, or ever, it suggests a basic domestic analysis (alkalinity, bacteria, conductivity, nitrate and pH). [1]
Free testing
We found no statewide free testing program in Montana. Ask your county health department whether it runs one.
Testing programs and help
- MSU Extension's Well Educated program helps well owners test and understand their water. Test kits are available at participating county offices, and guidance on what to test for comes with the kits. [2]
- MSU's 2026 Well Educated list shows where to pick up a kit. Most pickup points are county Extension offices; others include water quality districts, conservation districts and county environmental health departments. [3]
- MSU's Statewide Guidance by County map gives testing guidance based on location. Its statewide parameters of concern with exceedances are arsenic, fluoride, nitrate, selenium, uranium, lead and copper. MSU notes that lead and copper typically come from plumbing rather than groundwater. [4]
Buying or selling a home
- The Montana State Environmental Laboratory offers a HUD/FHA Mortgage Testing form for the testing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires for a HUD/FHA loan. [5]
- MSU says the Well Educated program is not intended for real estate or legal purposes. For those needs, or if you are in a hurry, it suggests working directly with a certified lab. [2]
State lab and rules
- The Montana State Environmental Laboratory (DPHHS) tests private well water. It offers chemistry packages that screen for metals, nutrients, anions, organics and more, several bacteria-only options, and individual tests. Samples can be sent by any mail carrier, by the lab's courier service (free of charge) or delivered by hand. [5]
- For the private well chemistry screens, the state lab requires payment in advance. Bacteria samples must reach the lab within 48 hours of collection. [6]
- DPHHS runs a Laboratory Certification Program for labs that analyze Montana's public drinking water supplies for chemical and microbiological contaminants. [7]
- MSU Extension lists Montana labs and the DPHHS certifications each holds. It advises calling a lab before sending samples to get current information on analyses, costs and hold times. [8]
What testing costs at the state lab
Montana State Environmental Laboratory, Chemistry Testing for Private Well sample submission form, July 2025 ("Prices subject to change"). The form says discounted prices for metals and organics testing are temporarily unavailable, so full prices are listed. Bacteria-only prices are on a separate form that was not read.
| Test | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Screen (coliform and E. coli presence/absence, nitrate + nitrite, specific conductivity) | $55 |
| Metals Screen, WellScan (calcium, magnesium, hardness, sodium, lead, arsenic, copper, uranium) | $135 |
| Anion Screen (alkalinity, pH, fluoride, chloride, sulfate) | $75 |
| Volatile organic compound (VOC) screen | $148 |
| Pesticides screen | $285 |
| Herbicides screen | $206 |
| Lead or arsenic by a more sensitive method (each) | $24 |
Prices as published when we checked on 3 Nov 2026. Private certified labs set their own prices.
Show the numbers
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 50 counties | |
| Zone 2 | 7 counties | |
| Zone 3 | 0 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
- Montana State University Extension Water Quality, Well Educated Parameter Choice Guide and Glossary
- Montana State University Extension Water Quality, Montana Well Educated Program, Testing Your Well Water
- Montana State University Extension Water Quality, 2026 Participating Counties List (Well Educated)
- Montana State University Extension Water Quality, Statewide Guidance by County
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana State Environmental Laboratory
- Montana DPHHS State Environmental Laboratory, Chemistry Testing for Private Well, Sample Submission Form (July 2025)
- Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Water Laboratory Certification Program
- Montana State University Extension Water Quality, Certified Montana Drinking Water Labs (page marked 'Updated 23.02.15')
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025)
Loan test (FHA, VA, USDA) in Montana
- 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.
Here:
- 2 labs on the Montana list print a loan or home-sale package price on their own site: see the price table.
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 Montana 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. 8 labs on this list are on our register so far; 4 say they take homeowner samples and 4 print a price.
| Lab | Bacteria (coliform / E. coli) | Nitrate | Arsenic | Lead | Basic well panel | Home sale / loan package | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine Analytical Helena, MT · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Total Coliform + E. Coli ... SM 9223 B Quantitray $35.00 source | Nitrate as N 0.01 mg/L EPA 300.0 Ion Chromatographic $25.00 source | Arsenic, low level 0.001 mg/L EPA 200.8 / 6020 ICP-MS $28.00 source | Lead, low level 0.001 mg/L EPA 200.8 / 6020 ICP-MS $28.00 source | Drinking Water 101 ... $150.00 source | – | We routinely report results within 5-7 business days by our laboratory. |
| Bridger Analytical Laboratory Bozeman, MT · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Total Coliform/E. Coli (Presence/Absence) $35 source Total Coliform & E. Coli bacteria (count) $75 source | Nitrate+Nitrite $34 source | First 5: $30 each. Next 5: $14 each. 11 & after: $7 each. Pricing is per sample. source | First 5: $30 each. Next 5: $14 each. 11 & after: $7 each. Pricing is per sample. source | – | (8) Standard Home Loan $95 2-5 business days source | Depending on the analytes selected, bacteria and inorganic results are typically 2-3 business days, and metals are typically 2-5 business days |
| DPHHS State of Montana Environmental Laboratory Helena, MT · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | $25.00 - Total Coliform Presence / Absence source $42.00 - Total Coliform Count (number of bacteria) source | Nitrate + Nitrite as N $28.00 source | – | – | Basic Screen ... $55 source | – | – |
| Montana Environmental Laboratory Kalispell, MT · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Coliform, Total: (presence/absence) SM9223B $37.00 source Coliform, Total: (count - mpn/100mL) SM9223B $47.00 source | Nitrate 0.01 175 mL plastic Cool to 4°C 48 hours $30.00 source | Arsenic E200.8 0.001 $17.00 source | Lead E200.8 0.001 $17.00 source | #1 EPA'S "BARE MINIMUM" PACKAGE ... PRICE PER SAMPLE: $75.00 source (PLUS ARSENIC AND FLUORIDE) PACKAGE ... PRICE PER SAMPLE: $100.00 source | LOAN PACKAGE REQUIRED BY FHA / VA / HUD ... PRICE PER SAMPLE: $110.00 source | our turnaround times are routinely the shortest in the state. 'Rush' service is available at an additional charge of 50% of the analysis price. |
Say they take homeowner samples: Alpine Analytical, Bridger Analytical Laboratory, DPHHS State of Montana Environmental Laboratory, Montana Environmental Laboratory.
Prices exactly as each lab prints them, read 15 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 Montana 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.
Missoula County43,068 on wellsFlathead County33,825 on wellsRavalli County31,745 on wellsGallatin County24,285 on wellsLewis and Clark County23,268 on wellsLake County13,280 on wellsYellowstone County12,405 on wellsLincoln County9,767 on wellsCascade County7,916 on wellsJefferson County6,647 on wellsStillwater County6,356 on wellsBig Horn County5,805 on wellsCarbon County5,724 on wellsSanders County5,711 on wellsPark County5,708 on wellsRichland County5,505 on wellsFergus County3,950 on wellsBeaverhead County3,876 on wellsBroadwater County3,539 on wellsGlacier County3,102 on wellsMadison County2,836 on wellsCuster County2,705 on wellsMineral County2,683 on wellsChouteau County2,441 on wellsMusselshell County2,437 on wellsTeton County2,412 on wellsGranite County2,356 on wellsRoosevelt County2,122 on wellsDawson County2,000 on wellsSweet Grass County1,852 on wellsDeer Lodge County1,756 on wellsPowell County1,646 on wellsValley County1,602 on wellsPhillips County1,594 on wellsRosebud County1,587 on wellsSheridan County1,360 on wellsPowder River County1,323 on wellsHill County1,219 on wellsBlaine County1,097 on wellsPrairie County1,080 on wellsFallon County1,015 on wellsSilver Bow County1,010 on wells