Private Wells

Filling glass with water from faucet

Making sure your well is in a good location and you take care of it regularly reduces the chance that contaminants can make you sick. We issue Well Location Permits and offer water testing services.

Well Location Permits

Before you build a well, you are required to get a Well Location Permit. We issue the permit to make sure the well is located with the proper setback from potential sources of contamination.

Call us at (608) 242-6151 for details about the permit and the process for building a well in Dane County.

You also need a Well Construction Permit from the DNR. A licensed well professional usually handles this for the owner.    

Well Maintenance

For basic information about well water system maintenance, see Tips on Maintaining Your Well. Information is also provided on Disinfecting Contaminated Wells.

Well Water Testing Recommendations

  • Test your well water every year for contaminants including coliform, bacteria, and nitrates. You should also test if you notice any change in taste, odor or appearance, or after flooding.
  • Visit our Drinking Water Testing page for testing information or call our lab at (608) 243-0357. We can recommend other tests depending on your well's location, age, etc.

Abandoned Wells

Abandoned or unused wells can contaminate the aquifer. This can affect the safety and quality of ground water and drinking water. Financial assistance for well abandonment may be available from the WI Well Compensation grant program.

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