OUR BIGGEST SALE OF THE YEAR!
Does your home have a private well? During these hot Wisconsin days, how do you make sure that the water you’re drinking is safe? Test it! Water kits are available at Walworth County Health & Human Services year-round, but for the month of July, these kits are available at a discounted price – a whopping 50% off!
TEST YOUR WATER AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR
Testing your private well is a way to identify any problems with the drinking water at a particular moment in time. Clean water can change from year to year, so the only way to know with certainty that your drinking water is safe is to have it tested regularly. It’s recommended to test a private well at least once per year, however, if there is any flooding in the area that could cause the well to fill with contaminated surface water, then you may need to test and take action. Additionally, if you replace or repair any parts of the well system or if you notice any changes in taste, color, or odor, then it’s a good idea to have the well water tested to make sure that there isn’t anything harmful in the water.
The purpose of well testing is to look for any possible contaminants in your drinking water that could negatively impact your health. Common contaminants include E. Coli, coliform bacteria, nitrates, lead, and arsenic which could pose a risk.
- Nitrate: Commonly found in areas where fertilization practices are common. Can cause serious health concerns for pregnant women & children.
- Bacteria (Coliform, E. coli): Commonly found in wells and can indicate that other bacteria, viruses, and parasites may be present. Can lead to nausea, diarrhea, and stomach pains.
- Arsenic: Commonly found in bedrock and soil, but pollution from agriculture and manufacturing can also contain arsenic. Can cause nausea and stomach pain, cancer, and heart disease.
- Lead: May be found in older homes with lead piping. Especially dangerous for young children because it can slow down their development, impair their hearing, and cause behavioral issues.
WATER TESTS OFFERED
Bacteria (coliform & E. Coli): $10 per sample
Nitrate: $10 per sample
Arsenic: $10 per sample
Lead: $10 per sample
During 2022, the Walworth County Public Health Water lab analyzed over 1,700 samples from both drinking water and recreational water. The Private Well Sampling Project was also conducted during July 2022, with a total of 151 well water tests conducted for private residence wells. 4 out of 98 wells had unsafe nitrate levels. 17 out of 101 wells had unsafe bacteria levels. 1 out of 91 had high arsenic levels, and 5 out of 84 wells had high lead levels. It’s important to test your well water!
Water testing kits are available year-round for pickup at Walworth County Health & Human Services, however, in an effort to provide more accessible service and foster health equity, we will be coming to you! Our Mobile Health Hub will be at these remaining locations for July to offer and receive water kits:
- Town of Spring Prairie Town Hall: July 26, 2pm-4pm
- Town of East Troy Town Hall: July 27, 2pm-4pm
Water test results will be sent to you typically 2 days after testing for bacteria & nitrates, and up to 10 days for lead and arsenic.
This content is free for use with credit to the Walworth County Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health and a link back to the original post.