Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Well Wise service in Montana?
Well Wise currently serves southwest Montana, including Gallatin, Park, Madison, Jefferson, Broadwater, Meagher, Wheatland, Sweet Grass, Stillwater, and Silver Bow counties. If you live outside of these counties in Montana, please call (406) 600-0797 or email at wellwise406@gmail.com to explore testing options.
My property is not in southwest Montana, can I still get my well water tested?
Well Wise primarily serves Southwest MT, however if you live in Montana and want well water testing, please call (406) 600-0797 or email us at wellwise406@gmail.com to explore testing options.
How often should I get my water tested?
The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends testing your water once every year for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH. Federal regulations for public drinking water quality do not apply to private wells, so it is your responsibility as a property owner to have your well water tested. You can read more on the CDC’s guidelines for well water testing here.
How do I know what to test for?
Your well water can taste great and look clean, but still contain contaminants that pose serious health risks. Regular testing is the best way to protect your household and understand what’s in your water.
Many contaminants that can affect your health have no taste, smell, or color, making them impossible to detect without testing. In Montana, naturally occurring contaminants such as arsenic and uranium are common in groundwater and can pose long-term health risks even when water looks and tastes normal. Metals like lead and copper, which can be a concern if plumbing was installed before the mid-1990s, can enter your drinking water through household pipes. Our Health + Wellness Test is designed to give you a clearer understanding of the metals and contaminants that could be impacting your health, helping you make informed decisions about your water and your home.
If you want the most complete understanding of your water quality — especially for a new home, a newly drilled well, or first-time testing — our Full-Spectrum Test provides the most comprehensive picture of your well water.
If you’re primarily concerned with how your water tastes and could be affecting your plumbing, a Taste + Plumbing Test can help identify water chemistry problems (e.g. hardness) that may affect water quality or cause pipe corrosion.
At a minimum, private well owners should test every year for nitrate and bacteria, including E. coli and total coliform, since these can cause immediate, serious health effects. Our Yearly Checkup Test is designed for analyzing these contaminants.
How long does it take for samples to be collected at my property?
Once our team arrives at your property, it will take between 10-30 minutes to collect your water samples. We will be collecting water samples ~100ml each (around half a cup of water), depending on the test(s) you selected. To understand home drinking water quality, it is recommended to take samples from an indoor tap rather than an outdoor faucet.
Do I need to be present at my property during the water sampling?
Yes. You’ll need to be present at your property for the Well Water Sample Collection appointment, as our team will collect samples directly from an indoor tap and will need access to your home. The process is quick and typically takes only 10–30 minutes, after which we will take samples to the lab.
How long does it take to get my results?
After our team collects your water samples, they will be analyzed by an EPA-certified water quality laboratory. You will receive your results 1-2 weeks after your samples are collected. If you need results within 5-7 business days (e.g. for a home sale), please select the “Expedited Testing” add-on when booking a Test.
Your emailed Results Guide will provide a thorough and educational review of your well water results, explaining factors that may affect human health, plumbing, and more. You are then invited to book a 1-hour consultation (in person at our office in Bozeman or via video call) with our team to talk through your results and ask questions. Our goal is making your results easy-to-understand, so you can make informed decisions about your well water moving forward.
How do I reschedule my water sampling appointment?
After you Book a Test, you will receive an email confirmation titled “Well Water Sample Collection Appointment ” with the time and date our team will come to collect your water samples. At the bottom of this email, click “Change/Cancel Appointment” to reschedule your appointment. We ask you do this more than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment.
I currently have water treatment systems installed (e.g. water softener, reverse osmosis filter), should I still get my water tested?
Yes, testing is still recommended. Water treatment systems can be very effective, but they only work properly when they’re maintained and functioning correctly. Over time, filters can become exhausted, membranes can fail, or systems may not be set up to treat certain contaminants.
Testing your water helps verify that your treatment system is actually doing its job and that your drinking water is safe. It can also identify contaminants that your current system may not be designed to remove, helping you make informed decisions about maintenance or additional treatment if needed.