TheWell Educatedprogram guides private well owners through the process of testing their water quality and understanding their test results.  The project is administered by Montana State University Extension Water Quality in Bozeman.  Fact sheets and educational videos associated with the program are available at the MSUEWQ website.

  • Please note: this program is not intended for well testing for real estate transactions or for testing required for legal reasons.

Please watch this 9 minute video overviewing the well educated program for partners:

Benefits of Participating in the Well Educated Program:


Interpreting water quality lab reports can be confusing (see examples for a bacteria lab report and for a chemistry lab report). For participants in the Well Educated program, we provide an individualized interpretation based on the use people specify for the water. Listed are examples of the following autointerpretations; household use, irrigation use, and livestock use. See this 4.5 minute video for an overview of the lab report and the autointerpretation reports. 

Program Updates:

  • In August 2025, we added extensive information on what to test for in the interactive county map.
  • In June 2022 we added specific results interpretation for livestock and irrigation water use. 

Other Resources:

Helping participants find the latitude and longitude for their well:

It is ideal if county partners can look at Google maps with a participant when they pick up a test kit to find the latitude and longitude of their well and record the coordinates accurately on the registration sheet. See this page for how to use Google Maps to find coordinates for a well.  

Ordering more test kits:

When a county partner needs more test kits, you either call or email MSUEWQ to order more. Call 406-994-7381. Email WellEducated@montana.edu. If it is possible to find a ride for the kits to get from Bozeman to your location, we reallyappreciatethe chance to save on shipping. Otherwise, we use the USPS for shipping and 15fit in a box,so let us know how many boxes you would like and if your addresshas changed.  

Bacteria Hold Time Issues and Working Directly with a Lab

Please watch this 4 minute video on what county partners need to know on bacteria hold times

Contacting a Private Lab

Hold Time Analysis

Website for participants on hold times and H qualifier on results when sample reaches lab past hold