[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-505574-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":85,"doc-detail-505574-en":134},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":78,"head_meta":80,"extra_data":82,"updated_unix":84},105,"en","faqs-for-private-well-water-testing","FAQs for Private Well Water Testing","","FAQs for private well water testing explain why private wells need routine sampling because contaminants such as bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, and other metals may be present without being visible, odorous, or taste-detectable. Guidance covers which parameters to test and how often, actions when results exceed recommended levels, typical testing costs, and step-by-step collection and submission instructions in La Crosse County. Readers also get resources for further help and treatment options.",{"@graph":14,"@context":77},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/faqs-for-private-well-water-testing/505574/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/faqs-for-private-well-water-testing/505574.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"kopisore","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-10","2026-10-04",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",9,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69,73],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Why should I test my private well water?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Contaminants such as bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, and other metals can be present in private wells and usually cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. There is no general requirement to test private wells, so homeowners are responsible for ensuring safety.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What should I test for and how often?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Test for bacteria and nitrate annually. Test for metals (including arsenic) at least once if you have never tested before. Every well should be tested at least once for arsenic, and if arsenic is present at any amount, retest annually thereafter.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should I do if my well results are above recommended levels?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Call the Health Department at 608-785-9872 for questions about results and for water treatment options, well repair, and well replacement.",{"name":74,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":75},"How do I collect and submit a well water test in La Crosse County?",{"text":76,"@type":64},"Pick up an approved test kit and follow the instructions on the bottle. Samples can be dropped off at LCHD from 8am–4pm Monday–Thursday, and payment must be made when submitting samples. Separate bottles are required for arsenic-only and metal panel tests, while bacteria and nitrate can be tested from the same bottle.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":79,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":81,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":83,"site_id":7},505574,1791564258,{"code":4,"msg":86,"data":87},"success",[88,92,96,100,105,110,114,119,123,126,130],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":122},"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":121,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":121,"slug":125},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":127,"slug":129},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":131,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":132,"show_sort_weight":101,"slug":133},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":86,"data":135},{"doc_id":83,"user_id":136,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":137,"doc_module":4,"category_id":111,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":138,"file_id":139,"file_url":140,"file_type":141,"file_size":142,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":22,"language":143,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":144,"faqs":145,"seo_title":146,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":147,"read_time":30,"preview_page_count":4},962090880963,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_6f874abed73319feea01a86fa6f0fab8","# FAQs for Private Well Water Testing\n\n1.Why should I test my well?Contaminants such as bacteria,nitrate,arsenic and other metals can be found in privatewells.Unfortunately you cannot see,smell or taste most of them.Unlike municipal water systems,there is no lawrequiring testing of private wells,except when it is first drilled or when the well casing is opened up for pump repair.Homeowners are responsible for making sure their well water is safe to drink.  \n2.What should I test my well for and how often?Test for bacteria and nitrate annually.Nitrate especilly f there arechildren consuming the water and/or pregnant and nursing mothers.Metals (full metals panel,including arsenic)if younever tested your well previously.Every well should be tested at least once for arsenic.If arsenic is present at anyamount,retest annually thereafter.  \n3.What can I do if my well tests are above the levels they should be?Call the Health Department at 608-785-9872for questions about your test results,water treatment options,wellrepair and well replacement.  \n4.How much does it cost to test?Tests avalilable at La Crosse County Health Department are listed below.Samplesmay also be submitted to the WI State Lab of Hygiene or other Wisconsin certified labs.Contact your local healthdepartment for more details.BacteriaS26Nitrate$26ArsenicS29Metals (includes arsenic)S80■   \nBacterla and/or nitrate ArsenlcMetais  \n5.What is the process or instructions for testing my well water in La Crosse County?  \nA.Pick up your well water test kit in an approved La Crosse County Health Department (LCHD)test bottle or botles,depending on what you are testing your water for(See picture above for bottle/sample type).Follow the attachedinstructions on your test bottle.Arsenic only and metal panel test each require a separate bottle.Bacteria and nitratecan both be tested from the same bottle (arsenic and metals must be in a separate\"metals\"or“arsenic\"bottle.  \nB.Samples can only be dropped offat LCHD from 8am-4pm on Monday-Thursday.(Our lab is CLOSED on Fridays and wecannot accept samples).  \nC.Payment MUST be made at the time you submit your samples to LCHD.  \n6.My neighbor tested their welland their results were fine,so mine should be safe too?AIl wells need testing,so do not rely on the results of your neighbor's test.Levels can vary from house to house.Testing your water is the firststep to keeping your family safe.If your water tests positive for contaminants,there are reliable treatment options toaddress it!  \n7.Where can l find additional information and resources?La Crosse County Health Department website:  \nhttp://www.co.la-crosse.wi.us/health/home.asp  \nAddress:3004th St N,La Crosse,WI 54601  \nPhone:608-785-9872  \nBottle Pick Up:Mon-Fri 8:00AM-4:30PM  \nSample Drop Off:Mon-Thurs 8:00AM-4:00PM  \n·  WI Department of Natural Resources(DNR)website:htto://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wells/  \n·  Environmental Protection Agencv(EPA)website:https://www.epa.gov/privatewells  \n·  Universitv of WI Stevens Point website:https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/watershed/Pages/default.aspx  \n·  Water Systems Council(WSC)Hotline:1888-395-1033 Website:www.watersvstemscouncil.org","cbCaijd7w4iLChYy","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaijd7w4iLChYy","pdf",127867,"English","# FAQs for Private Well Water Testing\n## Testing frequency and key contaminants\n## Costs and submission process\n## Interpreting results and finding more resources","[{\"question\":\"Why should I test my private well water?\",\"answer\":\"Contaminants such as bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, and other metals can be present in private wells and usually cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted. There is no general requirement to test private wells, so homeowners are responsible for ensuring safety.\"},{\"question\":\"What should I test for and how often?\",\"answer\":\"Test for bacteria and nitrate annually. Test for metals (including arsenic) at least once if you have never tested before. Every well should be tested at least once for arsenic, and if arsenic is present at any amount, retest annually thereafter.\"},{\"question\":\"What should I do if my well results are above recommended levels?\",\"answer\":\"Call the Health Department at 608-785-9872 for questions about results and for water treatment options, well repair, and well replacement.\"},{\"question\":\"How do I collect and submit a well water test in La Crosse County?\",\"answer\":\"Pick up an approved test kit and follow the instructions on the bottle. Samples can be dropped off at LCHD from 8am–4pm Monday–Thursday, and payment must be made when submitting samples. Separate bottles are required for arsenic-only and metal panel tests, while bacteria and nitrate can be tested from the same bottle.\"}]","FAQs for Private Well Water Testing | PDF",1791150933]