Water Testing for Private Wells
Water Testing Procedure
NOW Offering In-House Nitrate Testing!
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Prices:
Bacteria: $30.00- We accept cash or check. Checks can be made out to Vernon County Health Department (VCHD). (Effective 9/01/2022)
Nitrate: $30.00- We accept cash or check. Checks can be made out to Vernon County Health Department (VCHD). (Effective 9/01/2022)
Arsenic $29.00- This must be a check made out to La Crosse County Health Department Laboratory or paid for with cash.
Lead: $29.00- This must be a check made out to La Crosse County Health Department Laboratory or paid for with cash.
***Prices may be subject to change updated 9/01/2022
Testing kits can be picked up at the Health Department Monday- Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The kit will contain the bottles, and a Private Well Water Test request form. We will accept returned samples Monday-Wednesday during our normal business hours 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Thursdays samples will be accepted 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. NO SAMPLES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON HOLIDAYS OR ON FRIDAYS AS THEY CAN NOT BE ANALIZED OVER THE WEEKEND.
Once you take the sample, following the instructions on the back of the Water Test Request Form, bring it back to the Health Department. Make sure to fill the bottles to the fill lines indicated on the bottles and the water test request form. Place the filled bottle, completed paperwork, and payment in the plastic bag, and return to health department staff in our office. Staff will communicate the results of bacteria testing within 24-48 hours either by phone, email or letter per your request as indicated on the form you leave with your sample. Result time may vary for samples of arsenic, lead and nitrates as these samples are sent out to other facilities for analysis.
Forty percent of Wisconsin residents get their drinking water from private wells. It is recommended that all wells used for drinking water test for bacteria and nitrate annually or anytime there is a change in appearance, odor, or taste. It is also recommended to test for arsenic at least once, more frequently if arsenic is found in the sample.
Vernon County Health Department is a DATCP Certified Water Testing Laboratory for Bacteria.
Additional Information:
The cost of testing at La Crosse County Health Department can be found at http://www.co.la-crosse.wi.us/health/home.asp#water.
Bottles for testing through the state lab of hygiene can be found here: http://www.slh.wisc.edu/environmental/water/
Resources: