Best Well Water Analysis Test Kit To Ensure Home Water Safety
Updated: Mar. 23, 2024
The best well water test kit helps ensure your home's water is safe. Here are eight of the most effective tests on the market, chosen by experts.
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The best well water test kits tell you if your water contains unwanted and possibly dangerous bacteria or chemicals. Drilled well water has several advantages over municipally supplied water, but it comes with a few unknowns.
Supplied by underground aquifers, drilled wells are often completely sterile, thanks to layers of soil naturally filtering rainwater as it passes through. Trouble is, “often” doesn’t mean “always.” Nor is the water free of unwanted chemicals.
“Private wells are not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act,” says Eric Yeggy, the Technical Affairs Director for the Water Quality Association (WQA). “The well owner is generally responsible for ensuring that the water is safe for themselves and their family.”
Everyone with a drilled well should test their water every couple of years. Different kits test for different chemicals and bacteria, so it’s important to first decide what you most need to test for. Check with local health and water chemistry authorities for guidance.
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Best Test Kit for Water Hardness
Industrial Test Systems WaterWorks Total Hardness Test Strips
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Best Overall Well Water Test Kit
Varify Complete Water Test Kit
Well water test kits vary considerably in quality and accuracy. Exceptional accuracy makes the Varify Complete Water Test Kit the best well water testing kit available, according to over 7,000 Amazon reviewers.
One Amazon reviewer writes they recently purchased a home in base flood elevation, the lowest point it can be built without being impacted by seasonal flooding.
“Since we had recent tests and the closest lab was a few hours away, I bought this kit to see what results we got,” the reviewer writes. “Being a Hazardous Materials Specialist, I decided to check it out some more to be sure and sampled water from the pool, the separate hot tub and the horses’ water trough just to see. I got results that confirmed this kit works.”
Pros
- 100 test strips included
- Works for a variety of water sources
- Comprehensive test for 17 parameters
- Portion of sales are donated to charity
Cons
- Results fade from test strips after a period of time
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Best Budget Well Water Test Kit
SJ Wave 16 in 1 Water Test Kit
This SJ Wave 16 in 1 Water Test Kit gives a better bang for your water testing buck. For less than $30, you’ll receive 100 chemical strips capable of testing for overall water hardness, chlorine, lead, fluoride, iron, PH level, copper, nitrate and other contaminants.
Not only is it this the best well water testing kit for those on a budget, but it’s also handy to have on hand when checking the PH of pools and hot tubs—an important step to prevent scale buildup, equipment corrosion and cloudiness.
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Includes Testing Record Chart with EPA/WHO Standards
- Tests record 16 parameters
- Strips have a two-year shelf life
Cons
- Some of the color variations on the chart are difficult to discern
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Most Comprehensive Well Water Test Kit
Safe Home Water Test Kit
At $380, the Safe Home Water Test Kit isn’t cheap, but it’s extremely thorough. It tests for 200 contaminants including bacteria, metals and dozens of chemicals.
This test can safely and accurately rule out nearly everything that might be making your water unsafe. It doesn’t rely on litmus strips like many at-home test kits because these can be misread and vary in accuracy. Instead, this kit helps you collect samples to send to a lab for detailed analysis.
“The cost of this product is hefty,” writes a reviewer on Amazon, “but it provided precisely what I was looking for.”
Pros
- Tests 200 different parameters
- Includes a DIY water bacteria test
- Each processed test comes with a comprehensive report
- Lab fees and return shipping included in the price
Cons
- Pricey
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Best Test Kit for pH
MedLab Diagnostics Litmus-Based pH Test Kit
This MedLab Diagnostics Litmus-Based pH Test Kit measures acidity in your water. It’s really easy to use—just dip a litmus strip in your water sample, wait for the color to change, then compare it against the provided reference chart. It’s also a useful tool for health, since it detects the body’s alkalinity and acidity via saliva.
Because each pack comes with a whopping 200 test strips, there’s plenty available for double-checking results. It’s also a good choice for those looking to test the pH of aquariums—your fish will thank you.
Pros
- Works in 15 seconds
- Comes with 200 test strips
- Very inexpensive
- Comes with a detailed pH informational booklet
Cons
- Only measures pH; not suitable for contaminant testing
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Best Test Kit for Water Hardness
Industrial Test Systems WaterWorks Total Hardness Test Strips
Excessive water hardness is often a serious problem with drilled wells, and it can lead to problems like magnesium and calcium buildup, clogged pores and a bad taste. For just $11, these total hardness test strips offer a solution.
Each kit comes with 50 litmus test strips and an easy-to-use color-coded reference chart. At a glance, see if any water source is soft, hard and where it falls on the spectrum. Once diagnosed, excessive hardness is easily remedied using simple solutions like water softeners.
Pros
- Eight detection levels available
- Ready to read in three seconds
- Inexpensive
- Easy to read
Cons
- Must be used within the specified expiration date
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Best Test Kit for Bacteria
Health Metric Bacteria Test
E.coli and other coliform bacteria can cause serious health issues—even death—if left unchecked in a water well. The Health Metric Bacteria Test quickly and accurately tests for such unwanted bacteria.
It’s extremely easy to use. Fill the provided bottle with water from your well, shake for 20 seconds, then wait 48 hours before examining the water color. Purple means no bacteria detected and yellow means bacteria exists.
“In light of the fact that you pay hundreds of dollars for an extensive test, I was happy to see that this inexpensive version did the trick to confirm I have coliform in my well water,” writes a reviewer on Amazon. “I did pay for the extensive test and already knew I had the bacteria in the well water, but I wanted to test our filtered water just to be extra safe.”
Pros
- Comes with one, two, three or four tests
- EPA-approved testing method
- Color-led results are extremely easy to read
- No need to send it to a lab
Cons
- Must wait 48 hours for results
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Best Test Kit with Customer Support
Safe Home DIY Well Water Test
Here’s the trouble with DIY well test kits: Once you get the results, you may not necessarily know what to do next. That’s the problem the Safe Home DIY Well Water Test aims to solve. Besides easy-to-use testing for various contaminants, this kit also comes with contact information for qualified water quality specialists.
“Loved this test kit,” writes a reviewer on Amazon. “Very accurate when comparing to other kits. Thorough instructions, very easy to read. The Safe Home staff was friendly, and very helpful with my questions. I would highly recommend.”
Pros
- Uses 22 different testing mechanisms
- 242 tests included
- A portion of every test kit sale goes to clean water initiatives
- Includes trilingual instructions
Cons
- Bacteria test needs time to incubate
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Best Test Kit For Heavy Metals
Health Metric Heavy Metals Test Kit
Made in the U.S. following Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards, this Health Metric Heavy Metals Test Kit accurately and quickly tests for lead, iron, copper and mercury in your well water. Excessive metals in water often lead to green sink residue and can affect health in high quantities. The kit comes with clear instructions, an easy-to-read color code system, and access to a team of experts to answer your questions.
“I used this kit to test my tap water for lead and mercury primarily,” writes a reviewer on Amazon. “The directions are easy to follow. The results were easy to read and it only took a few minutes. I liked that there were two tests available in the event I made an error or spilled the packets of powder.”
Pros
- Tests for four common heavy metals
- Works in under 15 minutes
- Calibrated to EPA standards
- Uses low-level detection methods
Cons
- For readings over 0ppm, it can be hard to judge an accurate range
What to Consider When Buying a Well Water Testing Kit
Nearly all home water test kits involve wetting strips of paper with a small water sample. The resulting color changes indicate certain chemicals in the water. Consider the following features as you research the best kit for your needs:
- What it tests for: There’s a long list of contaminants you don’t want in your well water. Learn which are most common in your area and choose your test kit accordingly.
- Bacterial testing component: Contamination from bacteria is one of the most serious dangers in well water. This should be on your list.
- Accuracy: Waterborne contaminants are usually measured in parts per million (PPM). Check the test kit increments and scour reviews for a sense of the product’s accuracy.
“First it is important to understand what contaminant the test kit is going to detect,” says Yeggy. “For example, sometimes hardware stores will offer free test kits for hardness. These tend to be very small vials that you fill with your tap water and then mail in. Often, they are only testing for hardness, and then someone from the store, or a vendor affiliated with the store, will contact the homeowner with the results.”
According to Yeggy, a useful and free resource for any consumers considering water treatment is the Water Treatment for Dummies booklet. It contains general information about treatment options and specific tips for homeowners who are either on municipal water or a private well.
Why You Should Trust Us
I am a writer, videographer, photographer and online strength coach based in Northern Ontario, Canada. I grew up on a rural self-sufficient homestead property where I learned the skills to build my own home from the ground up, do all my own vehicle repairs and work with wood, stone and metal to find practical DIY solutions to many everyday problems. Emily Way is an Associate Shopping Editor for Family Handyman with experience researching products and recommending the best designs to consumers. She researched and updated this piece.
Way consulted Eric Yeggy, the Technical Affairs Director for the Water Quality Association (WQA) located in Lisle, Illinois. WQA is a nonprofit international trade association representing the residential, commercial and industrial water treatment industry. Eric joined the Water Quality Association (WQA) in 2009. He serves as a resource and advocate for the betterment of water quality by participating in numerous committees and task forces under American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), NSF International and other organizations. Eric plans and coordinates the activities of the WQA Water Sciences Think Tank. Before joining WQA, he began his career in the environmental testing industry where he gained a wide range of experience in analytical chemistry and managing quality systems. Eric holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Northern Iowa.
How We Found the Best Well Water Test Kits
When looking for the best well water test kits, it’s important to consider all the different types of tests available. We spoke to a leading water specialist to determine the most common contaminants in well water before deciding upon our criteria for each pick.
Once we decided upon our eight categories, we looked through dozens of best-selling kits, from those that test for singular contaminants to those that offer a range of test results. We combed through user reviews, determining which kits are worth the price and ensured that each pick uses the most up-to-date testing standards. The result? We’re confident that each of the best well water testing kits on this list is top-quality.
FAQ
Are well water testing kits accurate?
While water testing kits are usually fairly accurate, Yeggy notes that these are often just the first step when dealing with contaminants. Some tests simply aren’t strong enough to test for particulates like lead.
“Home test kits for lead are also popular. But these kits only detect dissolved lead,” notes Yeggy. “When problems with lead do occur, most of the lead is often present in particulate form. No one has invented a home test kit yet that will reliably detect particulate lead.”
It’s also important to know what you’re testing for and what levels are dangerous. Some tests detect contaminants that won’t give you an accurate picture of the quality of your water.
“There are also inexpensive meters that homeowners can use to detect Total Dissolved Solids in their water or TDS. But most tap water contains TDS, and this is not necessarily a problem,” says Yeggy. “TDS is not a reliable indication of a health concern or even an aesthetic concern that will cause bad tastes or odors.”
If I test positive for contamination, what are the next steps?
According to Yeggy, DIYers can find products that are certified to remove specific contaminants through the WQA website. The International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) and NSF International also have certified drinking water treatment products listed on their websites.
An easier way is to contact a local water treatment professional through the WQA website and let them recommend the best solutions based on the test results.
Originally Published: August 22, 2022
