Public Health Madison & Dane County

Drinking Water Quality & Testing

Person filling a cup of water at the faucet.

Our laboratory is certified by the state to test drinking water. We offer water testing for homeowners, renters, and public water utilities.

Is my drinking water safe?

In Dane County, the biggest concerns are:

  • Nitrates in private well water, which can be harmful to infants and pregnant people. Get your well water tested annually!
  • Lead: Old plumbing pipes, solder, and fixtures can release lead and other metals into drinking water.
  • PFAS: If you pay a water bill, you have water that comes from a municipal water utility. The water utility tests the water regularly for contaminants, including PFAS, and makes sure that you have safe drinking water.
  • Madison Water Utility is monitoring drinking water supplies in all municipal wells for PFAS contamination. Get information on municipal well testing and results from Madison Water Utility.
    • If you don’t live in Madison, contact your municipality to learn about PFAS testing in your community.
    • Learn more about PFAS.

Drinking Water Reports

All community water utilities are required to provide customers with a Consumer Confidence Report by July 1 of each year. If you did not get a report, contact your water system or generate your own on the Department of Natural Resources website. For more Madison water quality data, visit Madison Water Utility.

What should I test my water for?

If you pay a water bill, you have water that comes from a municipal water utility. The water utility tests the water regularly, including PFAS, and makes sure that you have safe drinking water. If you live in a colored area on the map below, you have municipal water. Click on your area for water utility contact information.

Private Well Owners
  • Test your water each year for bacteria and nitrate/nitrite.
  • Test sooner if there was flooding in the area or if your water tastes, smells, or looks different.  
  • Test for nitrate as soon as you learn that a pregnant person or infant will live in the home. Nitrate can reduce the blood's ability to carry oxygen. In infants it can cause a serious condition called "blue baby syndrome."
  • Learn what else you should test for from Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. You can also call us at 608-243-0457 or send us an email.
  • If you're in an area near PFAS contamination, it's recommended that you test your well for PFAS.

Private well testing for PFAS

PFAS can affect your health. In Dane County, the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene is able to test for PFAS. You can also get your water tested from any WI DNR certified labs. If you get your well tested, you can use this tool from the Department of Health Services to compare your test results to State standards. If PFAS levels are high, you can take steps to limit your exposure.

If you need help understanding your test results, email us.

Municipal Water Customers
  • You can test for water quality problems that may come from your plumbing, like lead, copper, manganese or bacterial contamination.
  • You should test for lead if:
    • You have lead piping or solder, which was legal until 1986
    • The system that brings water to where you live has lead piping or solder
    • You have galvanized steel pipes
    • Check Madison Water Utility’s website to figure out if you have lead pipes, or give us a call at 608-242-6515. Lead levels may vary widely throughout the home so don’t rely on just one good test.

How do I test my water?

  1. Decide Which Tests

    Email lab@publichealthmdc.com or call us at 608-243-0357. We will discuss the types of tests you need based on your situation and their cost. 

     If you already know what tests you want to order, go to step 2.

     If you already know what tests you want to order, go to step 2.

  2. Get a Test Kit

    • All testing requires the use of one of our water testing kits.
    • Depending on what type of testing you want, you might need more than one kit.
    • Water test kits must be ordered in advance by calling 608-243-0357 or emailing lab@publichealthmdc.com! You can pick them up at our office, or we can mail them to you for a $5 fee.

    Pick Up Test Kits

    • You can pick up a test kit from 8:00am – 4:15pm Monday through Friday if you have ordered it in advance.
    • Hours vary around the holidays. Check to make sure we are open before sampling.
    • Location: The Atrium, 2300 S. Park St., Suite 2010, Madison, WI 53713

  3. Collect a Water Sample

    • Collect the sample right before you bring it to our office.
    • Review the instructions that come with your test kit.
    • Instructions will vary based on the type of test. It is important to follow them to get accurate results.
    • Complete the information requested on the test kit bottle and form in your test kit.
    • Call us at 608-243-0357 or email us  if you have questions on how to sample.

  4. Return Sample to Us

    • Test kits can't be mailed and must be dropped off in person.
    • Bring your payment. We accept exact cash or a check made out to City of Madison Treasurer.
    • Location: The Atrium, 2300 S. Park St., Suite 2010, Madison, WI 53713
    • Drop off hours are Monday through Wednesday, 8:00am - 1:00pm only.
    • Hours vary around the holidays. Check to make sure we are open before sampling.

  5. Get Results!

    • You can get your results by email or mail.
    • Results are usually available in ten to fifteen business days after we get your sample. Rush orders (results in 5 business days) might be available. Call or email us about availability and fee before mailing or dropping off samples.    
    • If your test result shows the water is unsafe for drinking, we’ll give you information on what to do next. Call us at 608-243-0357.

We cannot accept samples on the following dates in 2025 due to holidays:

  • January 20
  • May 26
  • June 17-19
  • July 2
  • July 4
  • September 1
  • October 13
  • November 10-11
  • November 25-28
  • December 22-25
  • December 29-31

Cost

Read our Laboratory Testing Options and Fees.

Free Drinking Water Testing For Those who Qualify

  • If a pregnant person or baby under 6 months lives in your home and you have financial need, water testing of your private well is available for free through the Wisconsin Well Testing Accessibility Program. This uses a different testing kit and lab than the process above.
  • Please call 608-242-6515 to find out if you qualify for free testing. You can also visit our office at 2300 S. Park St. Suite 2010, Madison, WI 53713.
  • If you do not qualify for free water testing, you must follow the process above and pay the fees.
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Drinking Water Quality & Testing