Nitrate Water Testing Labs in North Carolina (49 state-certified labs)
Labs on North Carolina's official certification list that test drinking water for nitrate, with the ones that take homeowner samples first.
49 named for nitrate itself on the list.
Per the state list or a state web page. Call to confirm.
Located outside North Carolina but on its list.
USGS estimate for North Carolina.
How many labs test for nitrate in North Carolina
49 labs on North Carolina's official drinking-water lab list are certified to test for nitrate. All 49 are named for nitrate on the list. None of them is marked as taking samples from the public. Call a lab before you send a sample. 19 are located outside North Carolina.
The list is published by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) - State Laboratory of Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Drinking Water Laboratory Certification. List version on file: generated on request (no date printed), fetched 2026-11-07. Fetched 2026-11-07 (UTC).
North Carolina labs certified for nitrate
| Lab | Location | Nitrate certification | Public samples | Cert. expiry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE TECHNICAL GROUP, LLC - AKRON | Cuyahoga Falls, OH | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| ALLIANCE TECHNICAL GROUP, LLC - GREENVILLE | Greenville, SC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| ALLIANCE TECHNICAL GROUP, LLC - WILMINGTON | Wilmington, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| CAMERON TESTING SERVICES INC. | Sanford, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| CHARLOTTE WATER - ENVIRONMENTAL LAB SERVICES | Charlotte, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| CLEAN WATER LABS | Columbus, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EMSL ANALYTICAL INC - CHARLOTTE | Pineville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EMSL ANALYTICAL, INC -New Jersey | Cinnaminson, NJ | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTS, INC. | Wilmington, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING SOLUTIONS, INC. | Asheville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.-SYLVA | Sylva, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS CHARLOTTE | Charlotte, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS GREENVILLE | Greenville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS LANCASTER LABORATORIES ENV. TESTING | Lancaster, PA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS ORLANDO | Altamonte Sprng, FL | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS POMONA | Pomona, CA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS RALEIGH | Cary, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| EUROFINS SOUTH BEND | South Bend, IN | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| GEL LABORATORIES, LLC | Charleston, SC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| JAMES & JAMES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, INC. | Hendersonville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| K & W LABORATORIES, LLC | Midland, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| KACE ENVIRONMENTAL INC. | Mooresboro, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| MERITECH, INC. | Reidsville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| MICROBAC LABORATORIES, INC. - DAYVILLE | Dayville, CT | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| MID-ATLANTIC LABORATORIES, INC. | Port Royal, VA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| NATIONAL TESTING LABORATORIES, LTD. | Ypsilanti, MI | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| NC STATE LAB OF PUBLIC HEALTH | Raleigh, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| NSF INTERNATIONAL | Ann Arbor, MI | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| ONTERRIS LABORATORIES, LLC - RICHMOND | Richmond, VA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES, LLC - Madisonville | Madisonville, KY | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES- Asheville NC | Asheville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES- Eden NC | Eden, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES-ESC | Mt Juliet, TN | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| PACE ANALYTICAL SERVICES-Florida | Ormond Beach, FL | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| SGS NORTH AMERICA, INC. - WHEAT RIDGE | Wheat Ridge, CO | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| SPECIALTY LLC | Greensboro, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| STATESVILLE ANALYTICAL, HOLDINGS, LLC | Statesville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| UNIVERSAL LABORATORIES | Hampton, VA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| WATER QUALITY LAB & OPERATIONS | Banner Elk, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| WATER TECH LABORATORIES, INC. | Granite Falls, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab | Not on the list |
| AQUA PENNSYLVANIA, INC. | Bryn Mawr, PA | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| CAPE FEAR PUBLIC UTILITY AUTHORITY | Wilmington, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| CARY/APEX WATER TREATMENT PLANT | Apex, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| DURHAM, CITY OF - LABORATORY SERVICES | Chapel Hill, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| FAYETTEVILLE, CITY OF - PWC - CROSS CREEK WRF | Fayetteville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| ONSLOW WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY | Jacksonville, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| PIEDMONT TRIAD REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY | Randleman, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| RALEIGH, CITY OF - PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPT. | Wake Forest, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
| WINSTON-SALEM, CITY OF--SWANN PLANT | Pfafftown, NC | Named on the official list | Public samples: ask the lab Looks like a utility or municipal lab, judging by the name (our label, not the state list) | Not on the list |
How the North Carolina list marks public samples (whole list). County and district health departments: marked from NC DHHS's private-well testing FAQ, which tells well owners to contact their local health department to request well water testing. Other labs: not stated per lab.
Before you send a sample, call the lab to confirm it is currently certified for the exact test and method, that it accepts samples from homeowners, and how to collect and ship them. Status can change between list updates.
Why test for nitrate in North Carolina
Nitrate has no taste or smell, and a lab report can state the same water in two units that differ by a factor of 4.43. Read our nitrate explainer.
EPA advises private-well owners to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. [1]
North Carolina guidance that mentions nitrate:
- NC DHHS recommends testing a private well every year for total and fecal coliform bacteria, every two years for heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead and copper, and every five years for pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you know of a particular pesticide applied in your area, it says to test for it yearly. [2]
- DHHS also says well water should be tested after repairs or replacements of well parts and after flooding, and that you should test for nitrates if you are pregnant or have an infant at home. It suggests checking the wellhead once a year for cracks or openings. [2]
About 2,407,661 people in North Carolina used private wells in 2015, by the USGS estimate of people on domestic self-supplied water. [3] Federal limits are written for public water systems, not private wells, so testing is up to the owner.
For tests that depend on your home (farms nearby, old plumbing, a new baby), use the which-tests checklist. When results arrive, check your numbers against EPA's limits. State guidance, county data and every lab: North Carolina.
Other tests in North Carolina
- U.S. EPA, Protect your home's water
- NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Private Wells: Frequently Asked Questions about Testing (last modified Jul 29, 2025)
- USGS, Estimated use of water in the United States, county-level data for 2015 (Dieter et al., ver. 2.0, 2018)
- NC SLPH Environmental Sciences - Certified Drinking Water Laboratories (Commercial) (official list)
- NC SLPH Environmental Sciences - Certified Drinking Water Laboratories (Health Departments/Municipalities) (official list)
NC SLPH Environmental Sciences - Certified Drinking Water Laboratories (Commercial).
Official sourceSearch by city or ZIP among labs for nitrate.
Open the finder →