Quick start: Ask your county health department which tests fit your well and local conditions. For a homeowner test through the state EGLE lab, call 517-335-8184 to request the correct kit and confirm current instructions. EGLE’s published fee schedule lists total coliform and E. coli at $23, nitrate and nitrite at $41, and PFAS at $320; the listed fees do not establish which panel is right for a particular home.
Start with the official sources
- EGLE: How to get your drinking water tested — homeowner workflow, kit ordering, sample submission, and result timing.
- EGLE: Water Testing Fee Schedule (effective Oct. 1, 2026) — current listed fees and sample submission rules.
- EGLE: Laboratory certification program — current category lists for certified drinking-water laboratories.
- MDHHS: Test your drinking water — Michigan private-well testing recommendations and certified-lab options.
EGLE homeowner laboratory
Michigan EGLE says residents can call its Drinking Water Laboratory to request test kits. Kits may be shipped to the homeowner or picked up by appointment after notification. EGLE says to allow 5–7 business days to process a kit order, plus shipping time. The lab’s fee schedule says most test results may take up to 10 business days after the sample reaches the lab, plus delivery time for results.
Contact: EGLE Drinking Water Laboratory, 3350 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing, MI 48906 · 517-335-8184. Call before visiting; sample drop-off requires an appointment.
Local testing options listed by Michigan
EGLE lists local health departments with onsite testing capabilities and directs residents who do not live in or near those service areas to the state laboratory. The available test menu, fees, and homeowner sample rules differ by location. Contact the lab before collecting a sample.
Find a testing starting point by county
Choose the county closest to your home. We’ll show its locally listed option, what current official sources confirm, and what you still need to ask. This directory does not determine which tests you need or certify a lab for a specific test.
Your results will appear here. You can also browse the complete table or start with EGLE’s statewide homeowner lab.
| Option / service area | Confirmed details | Contact and price status |
|---|---|---|
| Kalamazoo County HCS Laboratory | County says it tests private homeowner wells for nitrate and coliform/E. coli. Supplies are available at the lab and listed township offices. | 269-373-5200 County lists $22 for drinking-water bacteria and $22 for nitrate; fees may change. |
| Oakland County Health Division | Homeowner sample bottles are listed for bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, lead, copper, and arsenic; bottles/forms are available at North and South Health Centers. | North: 248-858-1312; South: 248-424-7000 · email Current self-collected sample price is not published on the cited page; call to confirm. |
| Saginaw County Health Department Laboratory | The county publishes a drinking-water sample process: obtain a sterile bottle and instructions, collect from a cold-water tap, keep the sample cold, and return it within 24 hours. Samples are accepted Monday–Wednesday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (except holidays). The page does not clearly state which private-well household tests are available. | 989-758-3825 The county fee list shows “Nitrate and Nitrate Only” at $25, but does not clearly say whether that fee applies to a private-well household sample. Confirm eligibility, test menu, total price, and current submission rules. Results: call or visit after 4 p.m. Friday; mailing kits are available on request and subject to a fee. |
| Other EGLE-listed local options | EGLE lists Washtenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Alger, and Schoolcraft county health departments, plus White Water Associates Laboratory for the Western Upper Peninsula, as options with onsite testing capabilities. | Contact details and test menus vary; use the current EGLE list and call to confirm household eligibility, tests, fees, and sample rules. |
Download the Michigan local testing options and verification notes (CSV). We separate state-listed routes from details confirmed by the county or laboratory; inclusion is not an endorsement.
Published EGLE fee examples
| Listed test | Fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Total coliform & E. coli | $23 | Microbiology samples are not accepted on Fridays. |
| Nitrate & nitrite | $41 | Confirm whether this is the right test for your situation with your local health department. |
| pH determination | $13 | The state schedule does not list a single test labeled “TDS”; ask EGLE or your county health department how to arrange the recommended panel. |
| PFAS | $320 | Use the current lab kit and PFAS-specific collection instructions. Do not reuse another test’s bottle or procedure. |
Some other fee-schedule items carry an asterisk: those tests require calling to arrange sample collection/testing and add a $13 sample-preparation fee. Review the linked current schedule rather than assuming a listed amount is the complete total.
Download the itemized EGLE fee examples (CSV). We transcribed these entries from the linked state schedule, separated sample-preparation charges where applicable, and recorded the source-check date. The CSV is for comparison and recordkeeping; confirm current costs and sample requirements with EGLE before ordering.
Sample collection and submission
- Order the EGLE kit for the exact test before collecting a sample. EGLE says the supplied containers are test-specific; it may reject an improperly collected or submitted sample.
- The current fee schedule says submit the sample and completed forms within 24 hours of collection. Follow the instructions shipped with your kit if they provide test-specific details.
- Schedule in-person drop-off: Monday–Thursday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Microbiology samples are not accepted Fridays.
- For shipping, EGLE lists Monday–Wednesday overnight shipping. Confirm the exact deadline with the lab before collecting.
- EGLE says most results take up to 10 business days after receipt. The lab does not interpret water quality; contact your county health department for questions about results or next steps.
Checking other certified labs
EGLE publishes separate certified-laboratory lists, including chemistry and microbiology. Those records identify the analytes each listed laboratory is certified to test; a certification listing alone does not confirm that the lab accepts private residential samples, serves your county, sells a homeowner kit, or has a current public price. Confirm all four points directly with the lab before ordering.
- Open the EGLE certification page and choose the list relevant to your test, such as chemistry or microbiology.
- Find the specific analyte and verify it appears under the laboratory’s current certification record.
- Call the lab and ask whether it accepts individual private-well samples from your county, which kit/method to use, the total cost, and the expected turnaround.
- For local recommendations, contact your county health department. Michigan EGLE also directs residents there when deciding what tests to order and how to understand results.
Which tests should I order?
MDHHS recommends annual testing for coliform bacteria and E. coli, and nitrate/nitrite; arsenic and lead every 3–5 years; and PFAS at least once. It also recommends contacting a local health department because local conditions and household circumstances can affect what to test. This is a state recommendation, not a diagnosis or a custom testing plan for your property.
Do not buy every available test simply because it is listed. Ask the county health department about your location, well history, nearby land uses, and any recent flooding, repairs, or changes in water appearance or taste.
What this pilot covers—and what it does not
This page documents one state-run route, local testing options listed by EGLE, and provider details independently confirmed from current county sources where available. We have not confirmed the exact menu, residential eligibility, price, or turnaround for every listed local option. We do not rank or endorse a lab. Confirm the exact test certification and homeowner service details directly before ordering.
This guide is educational and does not provide medical advice, interpret an individual result, or replace instructions from EGLE, your selected laboratory, or your county health department. If a result raises a health concern, contact the lab and local public-health officials.