Water Supply and Well Water Testing

Safe, clean water is one of the most important substances in our lives—for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning. Municipal water systems test their water regularly to ensure it’s safe, but it’s up to private well owners to test their well water annually.

Water should also be tested if you notice any change in taste, odor or appearance, or after flooding.

Water Testing

Two very important tests well owners should have are for coliform bacteria and nitrate. Bacteria tests are $30. Nitrate tests are $30. If you buy both tests, it is $55 total.

  • Coliform bacteria can enter groundwater through poorly constructed or unsealed wells, fractured rock outcroppings, sinkholes, coarse soils and quarries. Wells also can be contaminated by insects crawling up under well caps and wells drawing in soil particles through air vents. Hence, the test is used as an indicator of how sanitary the well water is.

  • Nitrate interferes with the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, thus causing symptoms of suffocation or "blue baby syndrome" in infants. This is a very serious medical condition. Pregnant women also should avoid drinking water high in nitrate because recent research suggests connections between high nitrate water and birth defects and miscarriages.

  • The laboratory performing your well water tests can also recommend other tests that you might want to run on your water depending on your well’s location, age and nearby land use.

  • For more information on getting your well water tested contact the Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services at 715-284-4301 Ext 382

  • Water test kits and well testing is available from the Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services.

Certified labs in our area

Private Wells

Private wells are wells that are not part of a public water supply. Private wells have fewer than 15 connections and serve fewer than 25 people. They are usually wells that serve a single home or farmhouse.

Private wells are regulated by the Private Water Supply Program of DNR under NR 812, The Well and Pump Code; and NR 146, The Well Driller and Pump Installer Licensing Code.

Wisconsin has had well and pump regulations since 1936 and has been recognized as a national leader in well construction and pump installation standards. The Well and Pump Code is based on the sound premise that if a well and water system is properly located, constructed, installed and maintained the well should provide safe water continuously without the need for treatment. If you have questions on the well code, please contact a licensed well driller or pump installer, or DNR regional drinking water staff.

If you are installing or replacing a well, you must obtain a well notification WELL NOTIFICATION first.

Jackson County Public Health recommends testing your well water each year for bacteria and nitrates.

WELL CHLORINATION

Disinfecting or chlorinating is a way to eliminate potentially harmful bacteria from a well. Many homeowners have successfully chlorinated their own wells.

The Wisconsin DNR has a very complete guideline on the disinfection process. A simplified method of disinfection is also available from the Jackson County Public Health Department. This simplified method works in most cases.