In Marion County, Indiana, private well owners are eligible for free water testing from both the county health department, and, for a limited time, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s Groundwater Monitoring Network study.
Well water testing and annual maintenance are important parts of keeping your private well functioning and safe. If you own a private well in Indiana, your water is not regulated by the EPA or the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) – testing your well is important to knowing what’s in your water and keeping your family safe.
Marion County Public Health Department Private Well Water Testing
The Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) provides free testing of private well water for contaminants such as bacteria, anions (Nitrate, Nitrite, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulfate, Phosphate), and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds, including petroleum products and industrial chemicals).
Scheduling your test is free and easy – call the MCPHD at 317-221-2147 to request MCPHD staff to test your water.
Afterwards, you will receive a final report which shows the levels in your drinking water compared to health standards. It is not the policy of MCPHD to condemn wells or require treatment system. Result provide a starting point for MCPHD to offer recommendations.
Free Testing from the Groundwater Monitoring Network (GWMN) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
In 2008, IDEM’s Groundwater Section began collecting untreated water samples from both public groundwater wells and private wells statewide as part of a Groundwater Monitoring Network (GWMN).
This year, private well owners are again invited to participate in the study and receive water testing free of charge. Indiana residents will be randomly selected from a pool of applicants that meet the qualifications to participate in the study, which include listing of your well in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Online Water Well Record Database, your location in the state and the ability to obtain a detailed well log for the well.
If you are selected to participate, you will have your well sampled for nitrates and arsenic as well as the National Drinking Water Contaminants: volatile organic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, unregulated pesticide degradates, and inorganic compounds.
Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2026.
In addition to annual testing, following best practice for private well maintenance will also help protect you (and your wallet!) Check out this article to find a Homeowner’s Well Maintenance Checklist and learn more about why, how, and who can help inspect your well annually.
