Frequently Asked Questions

What is WellTopo?

WellTopo is a management platform for homeowners with private wells and septic systems. You can order certified water tests, view lab-scored results in a dashboard, and track maintenance and service reminders for your well and septic — all in one place.

Why: Empowering homeowners to take control of their water systems and safeguard their family health.
How: Through simple tools that bring visibility and proactive awareness to your home water systems.
What: With features for logging, testing, maintaining and protecting your well, tap, and septic systems.

What does a test measure?

A comprehensive panel screens 100+ analytes — bacteria (such as E. coli), nitrates, metals (lead, copper, arsenic, iron), pH, hardness, and more. Each result is scored and grouped by health priority versus aesthetic concern. Read more about Well Water Testing & Safety.

How often should I test?

Test at least annually for bacteria and nitrates, and after any change in taste, smell, or color. One test gives you a baseline; repeat tests reveal trends — the most powerful way to catch problems early. Read more about Water Testing Frequency.

How does water testing work?

Order a test kit, collect a sample at home following the included instructions, and ship it back with the prepaid label. Our certified lab analyzes it and your results appear in your WellTopo dashboard — scored, explained, and tracked over time.

How long until I get results?

Tests are typically shipped to you same business day. You collect the sample at your convenience. Once collected, immediately drop your sample at a shipping center to ensure water samples are fresh and results are accurate. Most lab-certified results are ready in 5–7 days after the lab receives your sample. Rush kits are available which increasing shipping and test results speeds. You'll get a notification when they're available in your dashboard.

Can I import past results?

Yes. WellTopo supports importing results from common lab formats (including SimpleLab and TapScore) so your history lives in one place.

I test my water pH regularly, can you track that?

Yes. WellTopo supports manually added test results and collates those onto your dashboard.

Why can't I rely on municipal oversight?

Private wells aren't regulated the way municipal water is — there's no authority testing your water for you. Over 23 million U.S. homes rely on private wells with no routine oversight, making homeowner testing essential. Read more about the Regulatory Gap.

Should I worry about "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in my well water?

PFAS — industrial "forever chemicals" tied to serious health effects — have turned up in groundwater nationwide, and private wells aren't covered by the testing rules that apply to public utilities. If you're near industry, an airport, a military base, or heavily farmed land, a targeted PFAS test is worth it. Read more about PFAS & environmental contamination.

Can my water be unsafe even if nothing is wrong with my well?

Yes. Contaminants like arsenic, radon, and uranium occur naturally in the rock and soil your water moves through — no spill or equipment failure required — and they're invisible, odorless, and tasteless. Testing is the only way to know. Read more about naturally occurring contamination.

I live near farmland — what should I be testing for?

Fertilizer and manure runoff push nitrates and pesticides into shallow groundwater, and high nitrate is especially dangerous for infants and pregnant women. If you're near crops or livestock, make nitrate and bacteria testing a priority. Read more about nitrate & agricultural runoff.

What maintenance does WellTopo track?

Septic pump-outs, field rotations, well inspections, filter replacements, water heater flushes, and dozens more including creating custom tasks. WellTopo calculates service intervals automatically and reminds you before deadlines, not after. Read our Well & Septic Maintenance: The Complete Homeowner's Guide for why maintenance and maintenance logging is important.

How often should a septic system be inspected and pumped?

Most residential septic tanks need inspecting and pumping every 3–5 years depending on tank size and household usage. Read our Guide for Septic System Homeowners.

What are signs of a well problem?

Changes in water pressure, sputtering taps, cloudy or discolored water, or new tastes and odors. Log these in WellTopo so you can correlate them with test results and service history. Read our Guide for Well Owners.

Is my data private?

Your property and test data are yours. We use organizational and technical safeguards to protect your information and do not sell it. See our Privacy Policy for details.

I am nervous about giving you my data!

We are not in this to resell your data or harm you or your loved ones in any way. We simply are aiming to provide tools you can use to help you manage and control your water and the health of your family.

If you try this out and it's not for you and you want your data deleted, we'll do it.

Keep in mind though, that some of the metadata about well and septic systems in many states and countries is public record and we cannot delete that data, but we can delete the data you provide to us. No worries. Contact Us and let us know you want your data deleted.

What does it cost?

A free trial is available, with paid tiers for advanced features and additional tests. Test kits are purchased as needed with free return shipping. See our Pricing Guide for more information.

I am having trouble signing in or creating an account, what do I do?

The easiest thing is to send us a note and we'll look into it. Being a small company we can look at this immediately for you.

I am having trouble ordering a test kit, what do I do?

The easiest thing is to sign in and then send a Support Request and we'll look into it. We want to be sure you have healthy, clean water.