Water Testing

Why should I test my well water?

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. It's one of the siplest things you can do to take care of the health and well-being of yourself and those you love.

What tests should I have done on my well water?

Two very important tests well owners should have, are for coliform bacteria and nitrate.
Coliform Bacteria are micro-organisms that can be found in human and animal waste, in soil, on vegetation and in surface water runoff. If coliform bacteria are present in your well water, then other bacteria, viruses and parasites that can make you sick may also be present. Hence, the test is used as an indicator of how sanitary the well water is.
Coliform bacteria can enter ground-water 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.

If there are infants less than six months of age or women of child bearing age drinking well water, then you should also test for Nitrate

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. Women of childbearing age also should avoid drinking water high in nitrate because recent research suggests connections between high nitrate water and birth defects and miscarriages.

Nitrate can enter drinking water from many sources, including fertilizer, animal feedlots, sewage drain fields, municipal and industrial wastewater, urban drainage and decaying plants. Soil types, bedrock structure and the direction of groundwater flow also may influence whether nitrate enters into wells.

The laboratory performing your well water tests also can recommend other tests that you might want to have fun on your water depending on your wells location, age, and nearby land use.

What do I do if the tests show there are problems with my well water?

If tests results show you have coliform in your well water, a second sample should be taken to confirm the first result. Make sure you use proper sampling techniques. If after re-testing, results still indicate your well water has coliform, contact the laboratory or you local public health agency for information on chlorinating your well. If chlorination doesn't solve the problem, contact a well driller or pump installer for help.
If a high level of nitrate is present in your well, contact a well driller or plumber for assistance.

When should I test my well water?

You should test your well water every year for coliform bacteria. If women of childbearing age or infants under six months of age are drinking the water, you should also check for nitrate.
You can make the testing part of your normal springtime routine. Water should also be tested if you notice any change in taste, odor, or appearance or after flooding.
For further information contact the Health Department.

Where can I have my water tested?

Public Labs

Phone

Racine City Health Department (B,F)

(262) 636-9205

Burlington Waste Water Treatment Plant (B)

(262) 539-3646

Western Racine County Treatment Plant (B)

(262) 534-6237

Kenosha County Health Department (B)(N)

(262) 653-6960

Sample bottles can be obtained at Kenosha County Center (Hwy 50 & 45)

State Lab of Hygiene (B,N,A,L,M,R,S)

(608) 262-1293 or (800) 442-4618

Environmental Task Force **UW Stevens Point (B,N,O,A,L,M)

(715) 346-3209

B= Coliform Bacteria
F= Fluoride 
N= Nitrate 
0= Organics (pesticides, diesel, gasoline, etc.) 
A= Atrazine screening

      Atrazine test 
L= Lead 
M=Metals
R=Radon
S=Sulfate Reducing Bacteria
** Special Homeowners Package Available

          (includes alkalinity, bacteria, nitrate, pH, hardness, conductivity , corrosivity , and chloride)