Do I need to test my drinking water?

It’s National Groundwater Awareness Week! Let’s take a moment to refresh ourselves on drinking water testing.

In short: If you have private well water, yes, you should test your water every year for bacteria and nitrate/nitrite. Testing is important for everyone, but it’s especially critical if you or someone in your home is pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or you have an infant at home. Read on for more details!

If you have municipal water (if you pay a water bill), in general, you don’t need to test your water - the city already does this for you. The water utility publishes this data every year. However, you can test for water quality problems that may come from your plumbing, like lead, copper, manganese or bacterial contamination.

Nitrate, bacteria, lead, and PFAS are the main concerns for drinking water in Dane County.

• Nitrate (for private well water): High nitrate levels aren’t good for any of us, but they are dangerous for infants and pregnant people. For infants, it affects how the blood carries oxygen and can cause blue baby syndrome. In someone who is pregnant, it can cause neural tube defects in the fetus.
• Bacteria (for private well water): Bacteria in your well water can make you sick.  
• Lead: In homes built before 1986, older pipes and plumbing fixtures can sometimes release lead and other metals into drinking water.
• PFAS: These chemicals can be a concern, especially in areas near contamination sources. Municipal systems test for PFAS regularly. We do not offer PFAS testing.

How to Test your Water

It’s easy to get started. Costs vary by test, and your testing could be free if you meet certain eligibility guidelines. Here’s a quick rundown of the process: