The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) works closely with community partners and businesses to protect human health and the quality of Idaho’s air, land, and water. A key aspect of our mission is working with private well owners to ensure their water is safe to drink. Unlike public drinking water systems, which are required to test water monthly, it is up to the land owner to ensure that their water is safe.
A sudden change in the taste, odor, or appearance of your drinking water may indicate contamination or a problem with your system that may warrant testing.
Well water can be contaminated by farm animals or chemicals, septic systems, naturally occurring chemicals, or unmaintained or poorly constructed wells. It is best to get your water tested because high amounts of contaminants can be harmful to your health.
You can collect water samples yourself and have them tested by an Idaho-certified laboratory. For instructions, including how to get the sample containers, how to collect the sample, and the timeframe for transporting samples, contact your DEQ regional office, or public health district.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.