Coliform Bacteria Water Testing Labs in West Virginia (29 state-certified labs)

How many labs test for coliform bacteria in West Virginia

29 labs on West Virginia's official drinking-water lab list are certified to test for coliform bacteria. All 29 are named for coliform bacteria on the list. 1 of them is marked as taking samples from the public. They are listed first. 7 are located outside West Virginia.

The list is published by the West Virginia Department of Health - Office of Laboratory Services (OLS), Environmental Drinking Water Laboratory Certification Program. List version on file: printed Thursday, August 20, 2026. Fetched 2026-11-07 (UTC).

West Virginia labs certified for coliform bacteria

Marked as taking public samples (1)

Other labs on the list (28)

How the West Virginia list marks public samples (whole list). OLS's list is a set of certificates issued under West Virginia 64CSR 3-13 (public drinking water) and does not say which labs take samples from private well owners. OLS's own pamphlet for household wells tells well owners to call OLS for coliform bacteria and chemistry sampling, so OLS's two certificates (Chemistry, Microbiology) are marked as taking homeowner samples; for every other lab it is not stated.

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 coliform bacteria in West Virginia

About a third of the 397 domestic wells tested for bacteria in a national USGS study had total coliform. Read our coliform bacteria explainer.

EPA advises private-well owners to test every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. [1]

West Virginia guidance that mentions coliform bacteria:

• West Virginia's Office of Laboratory Services (OLS) advises testing at least once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrate and sodium, best in spring and summer after rainy periods, and again after repairing or replacing parts of the well. As an initial set of tests to check common issues, it lists total coliform, regulated metals, secondary metals and combined nitrate + nitrite. [2]
• The WV Department of Environmental Protection's well fact sheet says to test your water annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, pH, total dissolved solids and lead, and to test for fertilizer and pesticide contamination based on surrounding land uses. [3]
• To have your water supply tested for bacteriological safety, complete form SW-253 (Request for Water Analysis) and submit it to your local health department. There is a fee for the sample; your local health department can tell you how much. [4]

About 391,591 people in West Virginia used private wells in 2015, by the USGS estimate of people on domestic self-supplied water. [5] 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: West Virginia.

Other tests in West Virginia