State Well Water Guide
Virginia Private Well Water Guide
Approximately 2.3 million Virginians rely on private wells — about 28% of the state's population. Virginia's geography creates highly variable groundwater quality: crystalline rock in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont contains natural arsenic and uranium; the Coastal Plain's shallow aquifers are vulnerable to agricultural and septic contamination; and numerous military installations contribute PFAS contamination. VDH regulates well construction but does not mandate ongoing water quality testing for existing private wells.
Testing Guidance
VDH recommends annual testing for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Piedmont and Blue Ridge well owners should test for arsenic. Shenandoah Valley well owners should test for nitrate from agriculture and bacteria. Coastal plain and Tidewater well owners should test for iron, manganese, and nitrates. Wells near military facilities should be tested for PFAS.
What to Test For in Virginia
Total coliform bacteria and E. coli — annual minimum
Nitrates — Shenandoah Valley, Coastal Plain, and areas with dense septic
Arsenic — Piedmont and Blue Ridge bedrock wells (significant natural occurrence)
Uranium — some granitic Piedmont wells
PFAS — near Langley AFB, Naval Station Norfolk, Oceana NAS, Quantico, Fort Belvoir
Iron and manganese — Coastal Plain and Tidewater aquifer wells
Radon — Blue Ridge and Piedmont crystalline rock wells
Lead — older dug wells with lead fittings
Common Contamination Risks in Virginia
Arsenic from Piedmont crystalline rock — one of the highest rates of naturally elevated arsenic in private wells on the East Coast
PFAS from military installations — Virginia's extensive military presence (Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia) creates widespread PFAS contamination risk
Nitrate from agricultural sources — the Shenandoah Valley's poultry and dairy operations heavily load shallow aquifers
Iron and manganese in Coastal Plain aquifers — naturally elevated in the eastern Virginia coastal plain
Radon from uranium-bearing Piedmont granites — moderate radon risk in central Virginia
Bacterial contamination from karst aquifers — the Shenandoah Valley's limestone geology creates highly permeable conduit systems where surface pathogens can rapidly reach wells
Contaminant Guides Relevant to VA Wells
PFAS
Synthetic Chemicals
EPA limit: 4 ppt
Lead
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 15 ppb (action level)
Nitrates
Agricultural Chemicals
EPA limit: 10 mg/L
DBPs
Disinfection Byproducts
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
Arsenic
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 10 ppb
Hard Water
Minerals
EPA limit: No federal limit
Chlorine
Disinfection Chemicals
EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MRDL)
Microplastics
Emerging Contaminants
EPA limit: No federal limit
Bacteria
Microbial Contamination
EPA limit: Zero E. coli / < 1 coliform per 100 mL
Fluoride
Minerals
EPA limit: 4 mg/L (MCL) / 2 mg/L (Secondary MCL)
Chromium-6
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 100 ppb (total chromium)
Copper
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 1.3 mg/L (action level)
Radon
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: No finalized MCL
Iron & Manganese
Minerals
EPA limit: 0.3 mg/L iron / 0.05 mg/L manganese (aesthetic SMCLs)
Atrazine
Agricultural Chemicals
EPA limit: 3 ppb (0.003 mg/L)
Uranium
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: 30 µg/L (30 ppb)
Perchlorate
Industrial Chemicals
EPA limit: 0.056 mg/L (56 ppb)
VOCs
Industrial Chemicals
EPA limit: Varies by compound: benzene 5 ppb; TCE 5 ppb; PCE 5 ppb; vinyl chloride 2 ppb
Radium
Radioactive Contaminants
EPA limit: 5 pCi/L (combined Ra-226 + Ra-228)
Crypto & Giardia
Microbial Contamination
EPA limit: Zero (treatment technique standard)
Hydrogen Sulfide
Naturally Occurring Compounds
EPA limit: No MCL; Secondary MCL (aesthetic) of 0.05 mg/L
Selenium
Minerals
EPA limit: 50 ppb (0.05 mg/L)
Cadmium
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 5 ppb (0.005 mg/L)
Mercury
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 2 ppb (0.002 mg/L)
Barium
Heavy Metals
EPA limit: 2 mg/L
Find a Certified Lab in Virginia
Use the Virginia state-certified laboratory program to find accredited labs for private well testing. Always verify current certification before submitting samples.
VA Certified Lab Directory ↗Virginia Well Water FAQs
Related Pages
Data Sources & Provenance
All data on this page is sourced from official U.S. government or public datasets.
Quick Reference
State program
VA Certified Labs ↗EPA guidance
EPA Private Wells Program ↗State lab directory
VA Certified Labs ↗Minimum Annual Tests
Plus state-specific contaminants listed above
Other State Guides