TOE RIVER HEALTH DISTRICT - AVERY COUNTY

At a glance

What it is certified to test

1 of the 9 common well tests on the NC list (see which)

Price

from $75 (Bacterial), as printed on the lab’s website, read 14 Nov 2026

Turnaround

“Bacteriological tests are done In- House. Results are typically given within 48 hours. All our other tests are sent to the State Lab and ...” (lab’s website)

Homeowner samples

yes (North Carolina list)

Lab facts

Listed by

North Carolina (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) - State Laboratory of Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Drinking Water Laboratory Certification)

Address

545 SCHULTZ CIRCLE, Newland, NC 28657 · Open in Google Maps

Phone

(828) 733-6031

Website

toeriverhealth.org

Not on the state list: found and checked by us, 14 Nov 2026

Public / homeowner samples

Public samples: yes (per state)

Local health department. NC DHHS's private-well testing FAQ: "Well owners for existing wells can also contact their local health department or a state-certified commercial laboratory to request well water testing." "However, specific procedures, fees and ordinances may vary from county to county." The sample may be analysed by the State Laboratory of Public Health rather than by this lab; call the health department's Environmental Health program first.

Certification record

Certificate ID

37547

Issued by

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) - State Laboratory of Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Drinking Water Laboratory Certification (certification program)

List version

NC SLPH Environmental Sciences - Certified Drinking Water Laboratories (Health Departments/Municipalities), version generated on request (no date printed), fetched 2026-11-07

We fetched it

7 Nov 2026 (file SHA-256 918be4282302…) · open the state file

Tests on the state list

• Named on the official list The state list names this analyte (or a column for it) for this lab.
• Group-level certification Certified for a parent group (e.g. 'Inorganics') that includes this analyte. Confirm the specific test with the lab.
• Partial group certification The list marks the group as 'Partial'. Confirm this analyte with the lab.
• Subcontracted The lab sends this analyte to another accredited lab (MDH 'X*').

NC SLPH lab number 37547; listed under Health Departments/Municipalities. Certified contaminants from the lab's SLPH detail page: 2.

Homeowner service and turnaround (lab’s own website)

• Takes homeowner samples: yes. The lab’s site says: “Water Source: Private Public Spring Drilled Well Dug Well Bored Well Other” source
• Turnaround (as printed): Bacteriological tests are done In- House. Results are typically given within 48 hours. All our other tests are sent to the State Lab and typically take 4 wks to get back the results. source

From the lab’s own website, read 14 Nov 2026 and re-read by a second checker; next check due by 12 Feb 2027. Certification fields come from the state list only.

Prices the lab prints, compared

• Bacteria (coliform / E. coli) against other North Carolina labs: median $60 across 8 other labs that print a price on their own site; 5 of them charge less than $75.

Comparison uses the lowest single-test price this lab prints; panels and ranges are left out. For comparison only, not a quote.

Nearest labs that take homeowner samples

1 other certified lab that takes homeowner samples is within 25 miles of this lab. Distances are straight-line from the address on the state list (approx. = ZIP-code centre). “Takes homeowner samples” comes from a state list column or the lab’s own website, as named.

Price and turnaround as printed on each lab’s own website and checked by a second reader; – = not published or not read yet.

Around this lab: Avery County, NC

• Private wells: about 6,310 people, 36% of Avery County’s 17,689 residents (USGS, 2015); rank 74 of 100 counties in North Carolina by people on wells.
• County health department: Toe River Health District - Environmental Health Section samples wells; bacteria test Bacterial $75.00 source (read 14 Nov 2026).

• EPA radon zone (indoor air): Zone 2: moderate potential (average indoor radon may be between 2 and 4 pCi/L). EPA says the zone map should not decide whether one home needs testing.
• Arsenic above 10 µg/L (USGS model): about 47 private-well users (95% range 34 to 63; 2010 base), rank 93 of 100 in the state. A screening estimate, not a measurement of any well.
• Older homes (Census ACS 2020–2024): 35% of 14,201 housing units were built before 1980, about the same as the state share of 34%. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead solder or fittings, so test tap water for lead there.

County figures describe where the lab is, not the lab. Sources: USGS 2015 water use and 2017 arsenic estimates, EPA radon zones, Census ACS table B25034 (2020–2024), EPA UCMR 5 (2023–2026); details and links on the sources page.

Before you send a sample

Call the lab to confirm it's currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Bacteria samples have short holding times. Status can change between list updates. To check a status, contact the North Carolina certification program.

Is this your lab?

Labs can ask for corrections through the agency that publishes their state list. Homeowner service, prices and turnaround above come only from the lab’s own website. To ask us to correct or remove this listing, write to us (how we handle listings).