Free Private Well Water Testing for Impacted Dane County Residents
Flooded wells pose health risks
If you live in a flooded area of Dane County and own a private well, your water may be in danger of contamination from pollutants carried in floodwaters. Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC), in partnership with the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene and Wisconsin Department of Health Services, is offering free and expanded private well water testing services for impacted Dane County residents.
PHMDC recommends well owners impacted by flooding immediately stop drinking their well water and using it for cooking unless it has been boiled for one minute. The well, and the entire plumbing system, should be disinfected. This procedure is best done by a licensed well driller or pump installer, but can also be done by well owners. More information can be found from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource.
After disinfection and before using your well again, water should be tested for bacteria. Free well water testing kits are now available for pick-up in Cross Plains, Mazomanie, Black Earth, Town of Middleton, Town of Verona, and Town of Montrose.
“We want to make water testing for well owners hit hardest by the flooding as easy as possible for folks. Doing this testing is crucial for making sure that your water is safe since drinking water contaminated with bacteria can cause illness,” says Doug Voegeli, Environmental Health Director for PHMDC.
Well owners should suspect contamination if the well casing becomes inundated; if there are taste, color or sediment changes in your water; or, if the well is shallow-cased and near areas that have been flooded.
PHMDC also recommends well owners who are unsure if their well has been impacted, test their water.
Free well water testing sample kits are available to be picked up at the following locations until September 6:
State Bank of Cross Plains
1205 Main St, Cross Plains
9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Middleton Town Hall
7555 W Old Sauk Rd, Verona
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday
8:00 am – 12:00pm, Friday
Black Earth Village Office
1210 Mills St, Black Earth
8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Mazomanie Village Hall
133 Crescent St, Mazomanie
7:30 am -4:00 pm, Monday through Wednesday
7:30 am – 7:00 pm, Thursday
7:30 am – 4:00 pm, Friday
Montrose Town Hall
1341 Diane Ave, Belleville
8:00 am – 4:30 pm, Monday through Thursday
Verona Town Hall
7669 County Highway PD, Verona
8:00 am – 2:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Madison – Public Health Madison & Dane County Laboratory
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 516B, Madison
Madison – Public Health Madison & Dane County Environmental Health Office
7:45 am – 4:15 pm, Monday through Friday
2300 S. Park St., Suite 2022, Madison
Residents with questions about well water testing, can call:
- Public Health Madison & Dane County: (608) 242-6515
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene: (608) 224-6202 or (800) 442-4618
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