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Well Water Testing Cost in Michigan: Lab Tests, Home Kits & What to Order

By Kyle Wood, Water Treatment Specialist • Updated May 2026 •
Serving Brighton, Howell & Livingston County, Michigan

Michigan Well Water Testing: Why Cost Depends on What You’re Testing For

Well water testing in Michigan is not a single product at a single price — it is a menu of individual contaminant analyses that can be ordered individually or in panels. Understanding the cost structure helps Michigan homeowners order exactly what they need without paying for unnecessary tests or missing critical ones.

Each contaminant analysis requires a different laboratory method with different reagents, equipment, and labor. A bacteria test (presence/absence of total coliform and E. coli) uses a culture method that requires 24–48 hours of incubation — it cannot be combined with metals analysis and costs $15–$30 on its own. A dissolved metals panel (iron, manganese, arsenic, lead, copper, and others) uses inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and can test dozens of metals simultaneously from a single water sample at marginal cost per additional element — a 10-metal panel costs roughly the same as a 5-metal panel. An anion panel (nitrates, fluoride, chloride, sulfate) uses ion chromatography and similarly scales economically with number of parameters.

The practical result: ordering tests individually is more expensive than ordering them in panels. The most cost-effective approach for Michigan homeowners is to identify the contaminants of concern for their specific well (based on location, well depth, and water quality history) and order a panel that covers all of them in one sample submission. Sending three separate samples to test three individual contaminants costs more than a panel that covers all three plus several additional parameters for insurance.

Free Well Water Testing Options in Michigan

Michigan well water homeowners have access to free and low-cost testing options that should be the first step for any homeowner before investing in paid laboratory testing:

Pure Water Filtration free basic water quality field test: Pure Water Filtration offers complimentary basic water quality testing at your home as part of a well water system consultation. The field test uses professional-grade test kits to measure: total hardness (in grains per gallon and mg/L), pH, iron (total and dissolved), manganese, TDS (total dissolved solids), and hydrogen sulfide. The field test takes 15–20 minutes at your kitchen tap and provides immediate results. This test is not laboratory-certified and is appropriate for: confirming the presence and approximate level of the most common Michigan well water concerns; guiding the appropriate laboratory tests to order for certification; and determining the general treatment approach needed. Call (248) 533-5050 to schedule a free field test in Brighton, Howell, Hartland, or anywhere in Livingston County.

Certified labs in Livingston County: The Livingston County Health Department does not test well water itself. Its well-water page tells residents to get sample bottles from a certified drinking water laboratory and lists two in the county: Brighton Analytical (2105 Pless Drive, Brighton, 810-229-7575) and Water Tech (718 S. Michigan Ave, Howell, 517-548-2505). Call the lab for current prices and bottle pickup, and follow its sampling instructions exactly or the result won’t be valid. Questions about well construction or testing can go to the county’s Environmental Health office at (517) 546-9858. Our free in-home water test screens for everyday problems like hardness and iron; for bacteria and nitrate, use one of these certified labs.

Michigan EGLE certified laboratory referral program: Michigan EGLE maintains a list of state-certified drinking water laboratories and periodically partners with county health departments for low-cost community well testing events. Check the EGLE website (michigan.gov/egle) for current testing programs in Livingston County and southeast Michigan. Subsidized community testing events typically cover bacteria and nitrates at minimal cost.

Michigan State University Extension well water testing: MSU Extension offers educational resources on well water testing and periodically coordinates reduced-cost well testing programs for Michigan residents. Contact your local MSU Extension office in Livingston County for current programs.

Basic Annual Maintenance Testing: Cost and What to Include

For Michigan homeowners with established wells who are performing routine annual maintenance testing, a focused panel covering the most common health and quality concerns is sufficient. Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) recommends annual testing for private well owners covering at minimum: total coliform, E. coli, and nitrates. Beyond the EGLE minimum, Michigan Livingston County well characteristics make additional annual parameters essential:

Recommended annual Michigan well water test panel — what to include:

Total coliform and E. coli (bacteria): Required annually. Tests for the presence of fecal indicator bacteria that signal contamination pathways into the well. Method: presence/absence culture test. Cost: $15–$30 at a certified lab. Results available in 24–48 hours. A positive result requires immediate action (shock chlorination and/or UV treatment). See our guide to bacteria in Michigan well water for result interpretation and treatment.

Nitrates: Required annually, critical for households with infants under 6 months. Tests for nitrate-nitrogen at concentrations above the EPA MCL of 10 mg/L. Method: colorimetric or ion chromatography. Cost: $10–$20 at a certified lab. Livingston County wells near agricultural areas, septic systems, or in sandy soils may have elevated nitrate levels from nitrogen leaching. See our guide to nitrates in Michigan well water for seasonal variations and treatment.

Iron: Strongly recommended for Livingston County wells annually. Dissolved iron above 0.3 mg/L causes staining, taste problems, and treatment equipment fouling. Tests for dissolved (ferrous) iron and total iron. Cost: $10–$20 as a standalone test, or included in metals panels at marginal cost. Michigan Livingston County median iron levels are 1–5 mg/L, making annual iron testing useful for tracking changes and verifying that iron treatment systems are performing correctly. See our guide to well water iron testing in Michigan.

Hardness: Recommended annually for Michigan well water, particularly if you have a water softener (to verify it is performing correctly). Tests for total hardness as calcium carbonate equivalents, in mg/L and grains per gallon. Cost: $10–$20 standalone or marginal cost in a basic panel. Livingston County wells typically test 250–400 mg/L (15–23 GPG). If your post-softener water tests above 1 GPG, the softener needs servicing. See our guide to well water hardness testing in Michigan.

pH: Recommended annually. Tests for water acidity or alkalinity. Michigan well water pH below 6.5 causes corrosion of copper and lead plumbing and accelerates treatment equipment wear. Method: electrode measurement. Cost: $5–$10 standalone or included in most panels at no additional cost. See our guide to well water pH in Michigan.

Manganese: Recommended for Livingston County wells, particularly wells testing above 0.05 mg/L (the EPA health advisory level). Manganese above 0.3 mg/L causes black staining and is associated with neurological effects in children at chronic exposure. Cost: $10–$20 or marginal in metals panels. See our guide to manganese in Michigan well water.

Total cost of a complete annual Michigan well water panel (bacteria + nitrates + iron + hardness + pH + manganese): At a certified Michigan laboratory, ordering these six parameters in a single submission: $60–$120 depending on the lab and whether parameters are ordered à la carte or as a pre-configured panel. A basic lab package covers bacteria and nitrates; adding iron, hardness, pH and manganese costs extra, so ask the lab for its price list. The full panel at a private certified lab runs $80–$120.

Comprehensive Home Purchase / New Homeowner Well Water Testing: Cost and What to Include

Michigan homeowners buying a property with an existing well, or who have recently purchased a home with a well and have never tested the water, need a comprehensive panel that covers all regulated contaminants and Michigan-specific concerns. This is fundamentally different from the annual maintenance test — it is a full baseline assessment designed to reveal any existing contamination problem. The cost is higher, but the investment is small relative to the cost of buying a home with undisclosed water quality problems.

Michigan home purchase well water test: recommended parameters and costs:

Bacteria panel (coliform + E. coli): $15–$30. Non-negotiable for any home purchase. A positive result before closing gives the buyer grounds to negotiate remediation or treatment system installation by the seller.

Nitrates and nitrites: $15–$25. Required by most Michigan mortgage lenders (FHA, VA, USDA loans) as a condition of financing for properties with private wells. The result must be below the EPA MCL (10 mg/L nitrate-nitrogen).

Comprehensive metals panel (arsenic, lead, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, barium, chromium, cadmium, selenium, silver): $50–$120 for a full ICP-MS metals panel. For Michigan well water, the highest-priority metals are arsenic (elevated in some southeast Michigan glacial aquifers), lead (from plumbing corrosion in homes built before 1986), iron, and manganese. See our guides to arsenic in Michigan well water and lead in Michigan well water for health context.

Hardness: $10–$20. Documents the hardness level for treatment system sizing and reveals the baseline calcium/magnesium concentration.

pH and alkalinity: $10–$20. pH below 6.5 with low alkalinity indicates corrosive water that will leach lead and copper from plumbing, warranting a neutralizer system.

TDS (total dissolved solids): $10–$20. A high TDS (above 500 mg/L) indicates a mineralized aquifer that may have elevated concentrations of multiple dissolved minerals. High TDS alone is not a health concern but indicates the need for comprehensive ion analysis.

Fluoride: $15–$30. Not included in most standard panels but recommended for Michigan homes where the well is deeper than 250 feet into bedrock or where the household includes young children. See our guide to fluoride in Michigan well water.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): $80–$200 for a standard EPA Method 524.2 VOC panel. Recommended for properties near historical industrial sites, gas stations, dry cleaners, or military installations. Includes benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX compounds), methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and others. VOC contamination is uncommon in rural Livingston County but present near former industrial areas.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): $150–$400 for a comprehensive PFAS panel (EPA Method 533 or 537.1). Michigan has significant documented PFAS contamination in groundwater in multiple areas statewide. For Michigan home purchases near military bases (Camp Grayling, Selfridge Air National Guard Base), manufacturing areas, or in communities with known PFAS groundwater issues, PFAS testing is strongly recommended. See our guide to PFAS in Michigan well water for area-specific risk assessment. Note: PFAS testing requires specialized laboratory analysis and is the most expensive single test component of a comprehensive home purchase panel.

Radon: $25–$50. Radon is dissolved in Michigan groundwater from uranium-bearing granites and mineralized aquifer formations. Showering with high-radon well water releases radon gas into the bathroom air. A water radon test (different from an air radon test) is recommended for Michigan homes in areas with known elevated radon geology. See our guide to radon in Michigan well water.

Coliform bacteria and E. coli (repeat): Some home purchase protocols require a second bacteria test taken 48–72 hours after the first, to confirm a clean initial result was not a sampling artifact.

Total cost of a comprehensive Michigan home purchase well test panel:

Basic home purchase panel (bacteria + nitrates + metals + hardness + pH + TDS + fluoride): $150–$250 at a certified Michigan laboratory. This covers all health-based regulatory requirements and the most common Michigan groundwater concerns.

Extended home purchase panel (adds VOCs + PFAS): $350–$650. Recommended for properties with any industrial or military installation in the watershed, or where seller disclosures or local knowledge suggest potential contamination. For PFAS specifically, the testing cost is $150–$400 for the PFAS panel alone depending on the number of PFAS compounds tested (EPA 533 covers 25 compounds; more comprehensive panels test 40+ PFAS compounds).

Full comprehensive panel (all of the above plus radon, uranium, additional pesticides/herbicides): $500–$900+. Appropriate for properties with agricultural history, proximity to industrial sites, or documented area contamination issues. See our complete guide to well water testing for home purchase in Michigan for what lenders require and what goes beyond lender requirements.

Michigan Certified Laboratory Testing: Where to Send Samples

Michigan drinking water laboratory testing must be performed by a laboratory certified by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for the specific parameters being tested. Using a non-certified laboratory produces results that cannot be used for regulatory compliance, real estate transactions, or treatment system sizing decisions from a verified baseline. Michigan homeowners have several options for certified laboratory testing:

Michigan EGLE-certified private laboratories: Multiple commercial laboratories in Michigan and the Midwest are EGLE-certified for private well water analysis. Common options used by Livingston County homeowners include: TestAmerica Laboratories (Novi, MI and multiple locations), ALS Environmental (multiple locations), Pace Analytical (multiple Midwest locations), and National Testing Laboratories (Michigan-licensed). Each offers online order forms for sampling supplies (bottles, preservatives, collection instructions), sample drop-off or mail-in service, and electronic results within 3–10 business days depending on parameters. Cost for a basic panel (bacteria + nitrates + metals): $80–$150 at commercial certified labs.

Livingston County Health Department Environmental Health Division: The county does not test water itself; it points well owners to certified labs such as Brighton Analytical and Water Tech, and answers well questions at (517) 546-9858. This is the most cost-effective certified testing option for the annual required parameters. Get sample bottles and instructions from a certified lab such as Brighton Analytical (810-229-7575) or Water Tech (517-548-2505). The lab will tell you its drop-off hours and how soon samples must arrive.

Michigan State University Diagnostic Laboratory: MSU’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health offers certified water testing for Michigan residents. Their well water testing packages are competitively priced and include the most common Michigan parameters. Results are typically available within 5–7 business days. Order online through MSU’s testing portal.

Water treatment company laboratory services: Some Michigan water treatment companies (including Pure Water Filtration) offer laboratory-certified water testing as a service to well water homeowners. Pure Water Filtration coordinates certified laboratory testing for Livingston County clients as part of treatment system consultations — we handle sample collection, submission, and result interpretation. Call (248) 533-5050 to arrange.

National mail-in laboratories (lower cost, longer turnaround): Several national mail-in laboratories offer Michigan-accepted testing at competitive prices: National Testing Laboratories (NTL), Tap Score by SimpleLab, and others. These services mail a sampling kit to your home, you collect samples following the instructions, ship to the lab, and receive results online within 5–14 business days. Cost for a comprehensive Michigan panel through mail-in labs: $80–$200 depending on parameters. Verify that the laboratory is certified by Michigan EGLE for the specific parameters you need before ordering — not all national labs hold Michigan-specific certification for all parameters.

At-Home Water Test Kits: Cost, Accuracy & When They’re Useful

At-home well water test kits are widely available at hardware stores and online. Understanding their limitations and appropriate uses helps Michigan well water homeowners use them correctly without over-relying on them for critical health decisions:

Colorimetric test strips (most common, least accurate): Test strips for hardness, pH, iron, nitrates, chlorine, and other parameters are available in single-parameter strips ($5–$15 for a pack of 50) or multi-parameter strips ($15–$30 for a combination strip). Results are read by color comparison against a reference chart — subjective and dependent on lighting conditions. Accuracy: ±25–50% for most parameters. Test strips are useful for: quick spot-checks in the field; confirming a water softener is reducing hardness (before and after test strips); verifying that chlorine is not present after a shock chlorination event; and screening for obvious issues. They are NOT appropriate for regulatory compliance, real estate transactions, or as the basis for treatment system sizing decisions on Michigan well water at the precision needed.

Liquid reagent test kits (more accurate): Titration-based liquid test kits for hardness and alkalinity, and colorimetric liquid kits for iron, manganese, and pH, provide better accuracy than strips. Cost: $15–$40 for individual parameter kits. These kits use measured volumes of liquid reagents and visual endpoints to give results accurate to within 10–20%. Suitable for: confirming softener performance (hardness before and after); monitoring iron filter output; tracking changes in parameters you’ve already established by lab test. Michigan water treatment technicians use professional-grade versions of these kits for field assessment. They are still not appropriate as a substitute for certified laboratory testing when baseline documentation is needed.

Digital meters (accurate for specific parameters): TDS (total dissolved solids) meters ($15–$30) provide accurate real-time TDS measurement and are useful for monitoring RO system performance (comparing feed water TDS to RO output TDS gives a direct rejection rate calculation). pH meters ($20–$80) provide accurate pH measurements when properly calibrated. Iron-specific colorimetric meters provide better accuracy than strips for iron concentration. Digital meters are the best at-home tools for ongoing monitoring of parameters where accurate tracking matters (RO rejection rate, pH after neutralizer adjustment, post-softener hardness confirmation).

Bacteria test kits (presence/absence, not a substitute for certified testing): Home bacteria test kits (coliform presence/absence, H2S indicator) are available for $10–$25. These incubation-based tests provide a qualitative yes/no result for bacterial contamination. They are useful for a preliminary indication but are not laboratory-certified and cannot be used for regulatory purposes or real estate transactions. If a home bacteria kit shows a positive result, a certified laboratory test should be ordered immediately. If negative, note that false negatives occur with home kits, and annual certified testing is still required. For Michigan well water homeowners who have had previous bacteria problems and want to monitor between annual certified tests, home bacteria kits provide a useful intermediate check.

PFAS home test kits: As of 2026, certified at-home PFAS testing kits are not practically available for Michigan homeowners — PFAS analysis requires specialized laboratory equipment (LC-MS/MS or GC-MS) that cannot be replicated in a home kit. Mail-in services from certified labs (Tap Score, National Testing Laboratories) are the appropriate approach for PFAS testing for Michigan homeowners who need it.

When to Test: Michigan Well Water Testing Schedule by Life Event

Understanding when to test — beyond the annual routine — helps Michigan homeowners respond appropriately to events that can change well water quality:

Annual (every spring, April–May): Basic health panel (bacteria + nitrates) plus quality parameters (iron, hardness, pH, manganese). Livingston County spring snowmelt creates the highest contamination risk window for shallow wells. Testing in spring captures contamination from winter and early spring surface water events. Cost: $60–$120 for a complete annual panel.

After flooding or significant rainfall events: Flooding can breach well casings and introduce bacteria and surface contaminants into the well. Test for bacteria immediately after any flooding event that brought water within 10 feet of the wellhead. Do not drink untreated well water after flooding until a clean bacteria test is confirmed. See our guide to well water flooding in Michigan. Cost: $15–$30 for emergency bacteria test.

After well construction, pump replacement, or well repair: Any work inside the well can introduce bacteria from tools, equipment, or the surrounding environment. Shock chlorination plus a bacteria test is standard protocol after any well service. Cost: $15–$30 for post-treatment bacteria confirmation test.

Home purchase (before closing): See comprehensive home purchase panel above. $150–$400+ depending on scope. Negotiate testing cost into the purchase offer or request seller completion of testing as a condition of sale.

After a change in water appearance, taste, or odor: New orange color (test for iron), new rotten egg smell (test for hydrogen sulfide and bacteria), new medicinal taste (test for industrial chemicals or VOCs), new oily sheen (test for petroleum hydrocarbons). The specific symptom guides the specific test. Cost varies by parameter.

When adding a new water treatment system: A baseline certified test before system installation establishes the untreated water quality. A follow-up test 30–60 days after installation verifies the system is performing to specification. This is particularly important for: RO systems (TDS and target contaminant removal confirmation), iron filters (iron and manganese at system inlet and outlet), UV systems (bacteria test to confirm pre-treatment effectiveness), and softeners (hardness before and after). Cost: $60–$120 per panel at certification level.

Every 3 years (comprehensive re-test): Even stable wells can develop new contamination issues over years. A comprehensive 3-year panel that adds arsenic, fluoride, uranium, and other less-common parameters to the annual routine catches slowly developing problems. Michigan wells that have tested clean for years can develop arsenic contamination as the aquifer chemistry shifts. Cost: $150–$250 for expanded 3-year panel.

If a neighbor’s well tests positive for contamination: Michigan groundwater contamination often affects multiple wells in a localized area. If a neighbor’s well tests positive for bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, PFAS, or any other contaminant, your well should be tested for the same parameter immediately, even if your last test was clean. Groundwater contamination plumes move with the water table and can affect adjacent wells over months to years. Cost: specific parameter test, $15–$80 depending on contaminant.

How to Collect a Michigan Well Water Sample Correctly

Improper sample collection is the most common reason Michigan well water test results are invalid or misleading. Certified laboratory results are only as reliable as the sample collection procedure. Following these steps ensures valid results:

Sample collection from the correct tap: For a whole-house well water test (testing the water as it comes from the well and any treatment system), collect the sample from the first indoor tap on the cold water line — typically the kitchen cold water tap. Do NOT collect from an outdoor hose bib, a filtered tap (under-sink filter, RO tap), or a tap on a softened water line if you want to test raw well water. Do NOT collect from a tap that has a garden hose attached or has been used for outdoor watering. For testing after a treatment system, collect from the specific post-treatment tap (e.g., after the softener for hardness, after the RO system for TDS and specific contaminants).

Flush before collection (for most parameters): For dissolved metals, hardness, pH, TDS, nitrates, and most chemical parameters, flush the tap for 2–5 minutes before collection to clear standing water from the pipes and draw fresh water directly from the well aquifer. Standing water in copper or lead pipes can show elevated lead and copper from pipe corrosion that does not represent the well water quality. Exception: for lead testing specifically, some protocols call for a “first draw” sample (collected without flushing) to test what a person would actually consume when they first turn on the tap — check with your laboratory for their lead testing collection protocol.

Do NOT flush before bacteria collection: The bacteria sample must be collected in a sterile bottle provided by the laboratory (not a household container). Do not flush the tap before collection for bacteria — the 2–3 minute flush for other parameters can actually reduce bacteria counts at the tap by removing stagnant water where bacteria may concentrate. For bacteria collection: remove the aerator from the tap (if present), run a flame or alcohol wipe over the tap spout for 15–30 seconds to sanitize the exterior surface, let the water run for 30 seconds, then fill the sterile sample bottle directly from the tap without touching the bottle rim to the tap.

Temperature and timing for bacteria samples: Bacteria samples are highly time-sensitive. The sample must be refrigerated (not frozen) immediately after collection and delivered to the laboratory within 6 hours of collection. Do not collect bacteria samples on Friday if the laboratory is not open on weekends and cannot process the sample within the 6-hour window. Check laboratory operating hours and sample acceptance hours before collection. If you cannot get the sample to the laboratory within 6 hours, it must be refrigerated with ice (not frozen) and delivered the same day. A sample delivered outside the 6-hour window will be rejected.

Laboratory sample bottles and preservatives: Each parameter category requires a different type of sample bottle with specific preservatives. The laboratory provides a sample collection kit with the correct bottles for your ordered tests, along with instructions. Common bottle types: (1) sterile plastic bottle with sodium thiosulfate for bacteria; (2) plastic or glass bottle with nitric acid preservative for dissolved metals; (3) unpreserved plastic bottle for nitrates and anions; (4) glass bottle with no headspace for VOCs. Never use household containers. Never transfer samples between bottles. Fill each bottle to the fill line marked on the bottle.

Chain of custody documentation: Certified laboratory tests require a chain of custody (COC) form that documents who collected the sample, when, where, and the sample handling conditions. The laboratory provides COC forms with the sampling kit. Complete the COC form accurately at collection time. For home purchase testing, a complete and accurate COC is required for results to be accepted by lenders and title companies. Missing or incomplete COC documentation is the most common administrative reason certified results are rejected.

Interpreting Michigan Well Water Test Results: Key Reference Points

Receiving laboratory results and understanding what the numbers mean is not always straightforward. Michigan homeowners often receive results with reference values from multiple standards — EPA MCLs (Maximum Contaminant Levels), EPA health advisory levels, WHO guidelines, Michigan state standards — that are not all consistent. Here is a practical reference for the parameters most commonly tested in Livingston County:

Total coliform: Result is Absent or Present (presence/absence test). Absent = acceptable. Present = action required. If total coliform is present, E. coli should also be reported. If E. coli is present, the contamination is fecal in origin and requires immediate treatment (shock chlorination plus UV system installation). If total coliform is present but E. coli is absent, the contamination is environmental coliform (not necessarily fecal origin) but still requires investigation and remediation. See our guide to bacteria in Michigan well water for response protocol.

Nitrate-nitrogen: EPA MCL = 10 mg/L. Action: treat if above 10 mg/L, especially in households with infants under 6 months (methemoglobinemia risk). Levels 5–10 mg/L are approaching the action threshold and warrant increased monitoring frequency (twice yearly). Levels below 2 mg/L are typical for Livingston County rural wells away from agricultural areas.

Iron (total): EPA secondary MCL (SMCL) = 0.3 mg/L (aesthetic standard, not health-based). Michigan well water commonly tests 1–8 mg/L. At 0.3–1 mg/L: noticeable taste and staining begins; at 1–3 mg/L: significant staining and taste; above 3 mg/L: heavy staining, metallic taste, orange water. Treatment threshold: most water treatment professionals recommend treatment at any level above 0.3 mg/L for Michigan homes with white fixtures and appliances.

Manganese: EPA health advisory = 0.3 mg/L (for prevention of neurological effects in children and adults). Michigan SMCL = 0.05 mg/L (aesthetic). WHO guideline = 0.08 mg/L (health-based). Michigan well water often tests 0.05–0.5 mg/L. At levels above 0.3 mg/L, manganese removal treatment is warranted for health reasons, particularly in households with children. See our guide to manganese in Michigan well water.

Hardness: No health-based standard. Aesthetic classifications: below 60 mg/L = soft; 60–120 mg/L = moderate; 120–180 mg/L = hard; above 180 mg/L = very hard. Michigan Livingston County well water typically 250–400 mg/L (15–23 GPG). Treatment recommendation: at Michigan hardness levels, softener installation is strongly recommended for appliance protection and quality of life.

pH: EPA secondary standard = 6.5–8.5. Michigan well water below 6.5 pH is corrosive and should be treated with a calcite neutralizer to raise pH before water contacts copper or lead plumbing. Michigan wells above 8.0 pH can have reduced effectiveness of chlorination-based disinfection. See our guide to well water pH in Michigan.

Arsenic: EPA MCL = 10 µg/L (ppb). Health advisory level (for long-term cancer risk reduction) is effectively below 3 µg/L according to EPA risk assessments. Michigan well water arsenic ranges from undetectable to above 10 µg/L depending on geological zone. At above 10 µg/L, EPA-certified treatment (RO or activated alumina) is required. At 3–10 µg/L, treatment is recommended for long-term risk reduction. See our guide to arsenic in Michigan well water.

PFAS: EPA enforceable MCLs (established 2024) for PFOA and PFOS = 4 ng/L (ppt) each. Michigan has its own MCLs (more stringent): PFOA = 8 ppt, PFOS = 16 ppt. If any PFAS compound is detected at any level above these standards in your Michigan well, certified treatment (RO removes 95%+ of most PFAS) is warranted. See our guide to PFAS in Michigan well water.

For a complete guide to reading and acting on Michigan well water test results, see our companion guide to Michigan well water test results interpretation.