💧 Well Drilling

Well Water Testing — What Eastern WA Wells Need

Eastern Washington groundwater is generally excellent — but coliform bacteria, nitrates, iron, and hardness are worth screening for in this region. Test annually. Know what is in your water.

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What's Covered

  • ✓ Coliform bacteria: test annually — fecal contamination indicator
  • ✓ Nitrates: elevated in agricultural areas (Palouse, Columbia Basin)
  • ✓ Iron + manganese: cause staining, taste issues in deeper wells
  • ✓ Hardness: Eastern WA water is generally hard
  • ✓ Real estate: lender requires coliform + nitrates at minimum

Typical Costs in Spokane

Basic (coliform + nitrates)$50 – $120
Standard panel (12–15 parameters)$150 – $300
Comprehensive (30+ parameters)$300 – $600
Sample collection by contractor+$75 – $150

Common Questions

How often should I test my well?
Coliform and nitrates annually at minimum. Also after any flooding near the wellhead, after pump work, after moving into a new property, or if taste, odor, or appearance changes.
My water has a sulfur smell — what does that mean?
Hydrogen sulfide gas — common in some Eastern WA aquifers, more nuisance than health hazard at typical levels. An oxidizing filter with the right media resolves it after testing confirms the cause.
My water leaves iron stains — what do I do?
Dissolved iron in your well water — very common in deeper Eastern WA wells. An iron filtration system or water softener (for lower concentrations under 3–5 ppm) resolves the staining. Test first to size the treatment correctly.

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