Water Testing for Private Wells
Water Testing Procedure
NOW Offering In-House Nitrate Testing!
Prices:
Bacteria: $30.00- We accept cash, check or card (additional convenience fee for payments with card). Checks can be made out to Vernon County Health Department (VCHD). (Effective 9/01/2022)
Nitrate: $30.00- We accept cash or check or card (additional convenience fee for payments with card). 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-Thursday 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. NO SAMPLES WILL BE ACCEPTED ON HOLIDAYS OR ON FRIDAYS AS THEY CAN NOT BE ANALIZED OVER THE WEEKEND.
Once you are ready to collect the sample, follow the instructions on the back of the Water Test Request Form provided (not following the instructions properly, can cause inaccurate results). Return samples 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 and the completed paperwork in the plastic bag and return to the Health Department within 24 hours from sample collection. 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. Nitrate samples are run in house and can take 1 to 2 weeks for results. Nitrate results will be communicated as requested on Water Test Request form. Result time may vary for samples of arsenic & lead as these samples are sent to La Crosse County 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 & Nitrate.
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: