We bought a country house about 18 months ago with its own well, and the water's been fine so far. But I'm hearing different things from neighbors - some say annually, others say every 3-5 years. What's actually recommended, and are there specific tests I should be doing beyond just the basic bacteria check?
Most health departments recommend testing at least once a year, though some areas say every 3-5 years is acceptable if results stay clean - annual is the safer call, especially if you have kids or elderly people in the house. Beyond bacteria, you'll want tests for nitrates, arsenic, and pH levels; if your well is older or near agricultural land, pesticides and heavy metals matter too. A local water quality lab or your county health department can tell you exactly which tests make sense for your area, since contamination risks vary wildly depending on geology and what's nearby. Since your water's been fine so far, you're probably not in immediate danger, but getting a full baseline test done soon will give you peace of mind and help you know what to watch for going forward.
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