About this list
- Agency
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) - Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP)
- Format
- Searchable database (AB Manager), CSV exports: accredited parameters (matrix Drinking Water) + lab contacts, analyte-level
- Homeowner flag
- Not stated in the list. TCEQ marks each lab 'Commercial?' Yes/No; that is not a statement about homeowners' samples.
Certified as ofLive database, searched 2026-11-15 ("accurate as of the date and time of the search")
TCEQ Laboratory Approval Status - List of Accredited Laboratories (public database, Matrix: Drinking Water). Fetched 2026-11-15 (UTC).
Official sourceTesting your well in Texas
How often to test
- The Texas Well Owner Network (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension) recommends testing well water every year, at least for E. coli, even if the water looks and tastes fine. [1]
Free testing
We found no statewide free testing program in Texas. Ask your county health department whether it runs one.
Testing programs and help
- The Texas Well Owner Network holds well water screening events, such as its June 2026 events in South Texas. Samples are screened for total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate-nitrogen, arsenic and salinity, followed by a results meeting. At the June 2026 South Texas events the fee was $15 per sample in some areas (Robstown, Sinton and Refugio) and free in others, so check each event. [2]
- The Texas Water Development Board says some groundwater conservation districts test well water for free or at a reduced cost. Its GCD Index shows whether your address is in a district. [3]
- The Texas Water Development Board's groundwater monitoring program occasionally has funds to sample private wells case by case. It tests naturally occurring constituents only, not bacteria. [3]
State lab and rules
- The State of Texas does not regulate the water quality of private wells. The Texas Water Development Board points owners to the TCEQ map of NELAP-accredited drinking water labs and says costs range from about $20 for a coliform and E. coli test up to $400 for a full drinking water standards analysis. [3]
Show the numbers
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | 0 counties | |
| Zone 2 | 39 counties | |
| Zone 3 | 215 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
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Well Owner Network, Frequently asked questions
- Texas Water Resources Institute (Texas A&M AgriLife), Private water well screenings set for South Texas June 22-26 (May 28, 2026)
- Texas Water Development Board, Resources for sampling private water wells
- U.S. EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county list (EPA 402/A-16/001, spreadsheet Sep 2025)
Loan test (FHA, VA, USDA) in Texas
- 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:
- 1 lab on the Texas 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 Texas 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. 29 labs on this list are on our register so far; 12 say they take homeowner samples and 8 print a price.
| Lab | Bacteria (coliform / E. coli) | Nitrate | Arsenic | Lead | Basic well panel | Home sale / loan package | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center San Marcos, TX · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Coliform, Total/E. coli Colilert Present/Absent ... $25.00 source | Nitrogen, Nitrates EPA 353.2 Rev. 2.0 48 hours 125 mL Cool to <=6C $35.00 source | – | – | Well Study pH, Total Dissolved Solids(TDS), Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness ... Total Coliform (Absence/Presence) $300.00 source | – | – |
| Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Regional Laboratory Seguin, TX · You collect it, or lab staff can | Total coliform (Presence/Absence) IDEXX Colilert 18 hr TNI DW 30 hr 125mL Plastic Cool to <=6C Na2S2O3 $30 source | Nitrate as N EPA 300.0 TNI DW & NPW 48 hr 500 mL Plastic Cool to <=6C $30 source | – | – | – | FHA, VA, Home Loan Package Price: $150 source | – |
| Integrity Testing, Inc. Austin, TX · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | – | – | – | – | household well water at a cost of $350.00 per sample. source | – | Our standard turnaround time is usually 5-7 working days from the time of sample submission. |
| Lower Colorado River Authority - Environmental Laboratory Services Austin, TX · You collect it, or lab staff can | Total Coliform – E.coli (Presence/Absence) $53 source | Method 300.0 (Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrite, Nitrate, Sulfate) $65 source | – | – | – | – | Normal Turnaround (7-14 Business Days) |
| Tarrant County Public Health Laboratory Fort Worth, TX · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Colilert Culture P/A $30 per sample source | – | – | – | – | – | The lab will email or fax your report to you, usually within two business days. |
| Texas Department of State Health Services / South Texas Laboratory Harlingen, TX | Water bacteriology, potable water HZZ0090 N/A $ 10.01 source | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory - Austin Austin, TX | Potable Water MZZ0441A N/A $ 18.39 source | Nitrate, N (NO3-N) EZZ0048A N/A $ 30.00 source | – | – | – | – | – |
| Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER) Stephenville, TX · You collect the sample with the lab's bottles | Analysis costs: $20 per sample for presence/absence or $45.06 per sample for enumeration. source | – | – | – | – | – | Next Business Day |
Say they take homeowner samples: Angelina and Neches River Authority Environmental Laboratory, City of Houston Health Department, Bureau of Laboratory Services, Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center, Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Regional Laboratory, Integrity Testing, Inc., Lower Colorado River Authority - Environmental Laboratory Services, SPL, Inc – Kilgore, SPL, Inc. – Plano, SPL, Inc.-Conroe, Tarrant County Public Health Laboratory, Texas Department of State Health Services / South Texas Laboratory, Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory - Austin.
Prices exactly as each lab prints them, read 14 Nov 2026 to 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 Texas 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.
Bexar County73,411 on wellsFort Bend County69,239 on wellsTravis County52,440 on wellsHarris County45,985 on wellsMontgomery County45,101 on wellsDallas County41,238 on wellsLubbock County40,886 on wellsParker County31,109 on wellsBrazoria County27,280 on wellsCollin County24,525 on wellsDenton County20,713 on wellsEctor County20,336 on wellsWise County20,078 on wellsLiberty County18,645 on wellsRandall County17,451 on wellsKendall County17,125 on wellsTom Green County16,936 on wellsEl Paso County16,258 on wellsHays County15,786 on wellsOrange County14,773 on wellsVal Verde County13,537 on wellsAnderson County13,211 on wellsErath County12,996 on wellsAustin County12,464 on wellsWharton County12,378 on wellsNueces County12,232 on wellsBowie County12,189 on wellsBee County11,915 on wellsVictoria County11,460 on wellsBandera County11,142 on wellsHood County10,936 on wellsKerr County10,782 on wellsBurnet County10,593 on wellsGillespie County10,267 on wellsVan Zandt County10,043 on wellsWalker County10,035 on wellsRusk County9,940 on wellsBrazos County9,545 on wellsHenderson County9,425 on wellsTyler County9,374 on wellsMaverick County9,279 on wellsPanola County9,168 on wellsHardin County9,013 on wellsPolk County8,618 on wellsShelby County8,318 on wellsWilliamson County8,035 on wellsChambers County7,949 on wellsPotter County7,949 on wellsJones County7,872 on wellsGuadalupe County7,614 on wellsSmith County7,554 on wellsGaines County7,451 on wellsMcLennan County7,434 on wellsLavaca County7,125 on wellsMidland County6,824 on wellsMadison County6,738 on wellsColorado County6,575 on wellsWashington County6,481 on wellsCherokee County6,181 on wellsWaller County6,146 on wellsGregg County5,940 on wellsJim Wells County5,734 on wellsJasper County5,665 on wellsMontague County5,614 on wellsBurleson County5,588 on wellsNewton County5,537 on wellsBlanco County5,502 on wellsHoward County5,468 on wellsSan Jacinto County5,425 on wellsDeWitt County5,348 on wellsGalveston County5,339 on wellsComal County5,082 on wellsFalls County5,065 on wellsAndrews County4,979 on wellsTarrant County4,893 on wellsMedina County4,730 on wellsSabine County4,713 on wellsJefferson County4,489 on wellsMilam County4,481 on wellsHill County4,447 on wellsCameron County4,163 on wellsSan Patricio County3,914 on wellsSomervell County3,897 on wellsKaufman County3,820 on wellsPecos County3,820 on wellsGoliad County3,803 on wellsMatagorda County3,794 on wellsHockley County3,786 on wellsLeon County3,640 on wellsUvalde County3,519 on wellsHouston County3,511 on wellsLimestone County3,416 on wellsStarr County3,296 on wellsSan Augustine County3,253 on wellsDeaf Smith County3,236 on wellsFreestone County3,228 on wellsReeves County3,228 on wellsNavarro County3,219 on wellsJackson County3,142 on wellsDawson County3,013 on wellsNacogdoches County2,695 on wellsYoakum County2,652 on wellsHamilton County2,635 on wellsAtascosa County2,618 on wellsJack County2,549 on wellsCalhoun County2,481 on wellsGray County2,438 on wellsUpshur County2,386 on wellsComanche County2,309 on wellsBrewster County2,249 on wellsHarrison County2,249 on wellsYoung County2,215 on wellsHale County2,043 on wellsBosque County1,983 on wellsHopkins County1,949 on wellsMills County1,906 on wellsTaylor County1,871 on wellsScurry County1,854 on wellsLlano County1,820 on wellsWillacy County1,820 on wellsGrimes County1,777 on wellsDuval County1,751 on wellsClay County1,691 on wellsOchiltree County1,682 on wellsLa Salle County1,674 on wellsHartley County1,622 on wellsZavala County1,614 on wellsParmer County1,605 on wellsCallahan County1,562 on wellsLive Oak County1,554 on wellsReal County1,554 on wellsTrinity County1,528 on wellsBailey County1,494 on wellsMason County1,476 on wellsRefugio County1,476 on wellsFrio County1,468 on wellsJohnson County1,459 on wellsFayette County1,451 on wellsDimmit County1,408 on wellsEastland County1,408 on wellsHutchinson County1,399 on wellsRobertson County1,382 on wellsMoore County1,348 on wellsCaldwell County1,331 on wellsFannin County1,331 on wellsGlasscock County1,315 on wellsWood County1,270 on wellsMartin County1,245 on wellsJeff Davis County1,202 on wellsCastro County1,176 on wellsSwisher County1,167 on wellsGonzales County1,150 on wellsCrockett County1,116 on wellsMorris County1,064 on wellsWheeler County1,056 on wellsRockwall County1,039 on wellsKimble County1,022 on wellsLynn County1,022 on wellsLee County1,004 on wells