Testing Your Well Water

If you get your drinking water from a private well it is recommended that you test your well water at least once a year, and any time you notice a change in how the water looks, tastes or smells. Even if your water looks, tastes and smells good, it can contain harmful bacteria and viruses. Washington County has partnered with UW-Stevens Point's WEAL (Water & Environmental Analysis Lab) to offer an affordable well water sampling package for homeowners.

The Homeowner Package gives a bigger picture of the composition of drinking water beyond the typical Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Nitrite, and pH; it also includes:
• Corrosion, which could cause lead and copper to leach from plumbing
• Hardness, which indicates the amount of beneficial minerals in the water
• Chloride, which gives an excellent indication of human impacted water

The additional data is very useful in diagnosing or predicting other potential problems and sources of problems. The best time to test your well is when groundwater flow is moving the most, this occurs during snowmelt in the spring or again in the fall depending on the frequency of precipitation.

Visit the Washington County Planning and Parks Department office to pick up a test bottle today! There is no cost to pick up a bottle, however lab fee is required when you submit your water sample to the UW-Stevens Point-Water & Environmental Analysis Lab.

Well Water Test Kit Brochure (07/01/2023)

Interpreting Drinking Water Quality Results (pdf)
Determine The Location Of Your Well (pdf)