Household Water, Well & Septic
As COVID-19 continues to impact us locally, we will be closing all Public Health Madison & Dane County offices to the public effective Thursday, March 19, 2020.
Although this decision was not arrived at easily, it is a decision that we needed to make. We are prioritizing preserving the health and safety of our staff and clients while continuing to maintain our ability to provide essential services, including our response to COVID-19.
We will continue providing services through alternate avenues, detailed below, but at this time we are reducing our direct contact with the public.
The Lab will be reducing testing services. Specifically:
- The lab will stop receiving private water samples from the public until further notice. Current samples will be processed.
- Some project water samples (Zoo, Pools, Water Utility) will continue to be analyzed.
- We will have lab staff available if emergency water testing is needed.
- The lab will continue respond to illicit discharge via the online complaint system.
The Well and Septic program will continue regular services. Specifically:
- Services will continued in the field while maintaining social distancing.
- Permits will only be received via mail or online.
- Response to program related questions will be handled via phone and e-mail.
We have received questions from both property owners and professionals about our routine septic maintenance program during this current public health emergency. Septic maintenance is possibly even more essential now with people spending more time in their homes. This maintenance can be completed without any personal contact with the service provider.
Public Health will not be conducting any routine septic maintenance (TAM) enforcement for the duration of the current COVID-19 emergency.
- There will be no citations issued for non-compliance with our TAM notices.
- We will suspend issuing orders to those properties that are past due for maintenance.
- We will continue to send out 1st and 2nd notice cards in the mail per our usual schedule. (All notices to date have gone out on schedule).
- We will likely begin our enforcement again on September 1st. This should give any homeowners time to have their maintenance done over the spring/summer.
- Any orders and citations issued in March or February will be placed on hold until after September 1.
Clean drinking water is essential to health. We regulate sanitary and well location permits, monitor drinking water quality, and provide water testing services to protect our ground and surface waters, and reduce the spread of disease.
Drinking Water Testing
Information on how to get your water tested for bacteria, metals, and other chemicals through our Environmental Health Laboratory.
Private Septic Systems
Sanitary permit, inspection, and maintenance information for private septic systems.
Private Wells
Well location permit information and well water testing testing recommendations for private wells.
Water Quality
Data on the current water quality in Madison and Dane County, including sources of our most common pollutants and ways to improve water quality.