You can't choose the right treatment system without knowing what's in your water. Here's how to test your well water properly.
We say this on every page because it matters that much. The right iron filter for 3 PPM iron is wrong for 10 PPM iron. The right softener setting for 15 GPG is wrong for 30 GPG. A $30–$80 water test saves you from buying the wrong system.
| Hardness (GPG) | Determines softener sizing and settings |
| Iron (PPM) | Ferrous and ferric — determines iron filter need and capacity |
| Manganese (PPM) | Often accompanies iron, treated similarly |
| pH | Low pH damages equipment; below 6.5 needs acid neutralizer |
| Hydrogen sulfide | Must be field-tested — dissipates in mail-in samples |
| Coliform bacteria | Annual testing recommended for private wells |
| E. coli | More serious than total coliform — requires immediate action |
| Nitrates | Common in agricultural areas, health risk at high levels |
| Arsenic | Odorless and tasteless — only detectable by testing |
| TDS (total dissolved solids) | General water quality indicator |
Good for: quick hardness and pH screening. Not good for: iron type, bacteria, arsenic, nitrates. Use as a starting point.
Good for: hardness, iron, pH, basic bacteria indicator. More accurate than strips. Some kits include a wide panel of tests.
The most accurate option for most parameters. Use a certified lab — SimpleLab's Tap Score is the one we recommend most for well water owners because their well water panels are designed specifically for the contaminants we care about (iron speciation, sulfur indicators, hardness, bacteria, arsenic, nitrates, and more). Order the panel that matches your concerns.
Most accurate for hydrogen sulfide (which dissipates before mail-in samples arrive). A water treatment professional or your county health department can test on-site.