Drinking Water & Well Testing Program

Taylor County offers a Drinking Water Testing Program with discounted test packages once per year. Bottles for the next program will be available September 14 – 18, 2026. The samples must be taken and returned by Monday, September 21. Watch our Facebook page at summer’s end for more details.

How do I know which test/s to perform?
Individual tests and packages are available to meet your specific needs. If you need data on only one component of water quality (such as bacteria or arsenic), then an individual test might be your preferred option. If you are unsure or need a broader range of information, then one or both packages might be your preferred option.

Homeowner Package
• Basic package, includes the two most important tests to perform regularly (coliform bacteria and nitrate)
• Also tests pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, Chloride, Conductivity, and Corrosivity
• Summation of this package will also provide information on characteristics of your well, including the potential for scaling or corroding of pipes, which could cause other issues

Metals Package
• Tests both naturally occurring metals and those deriving from corroding plumbing fixtures
• Package includes: Arsenic, Calcium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Potassium, Sodium, Sulfur, and Zinc
• Package is recommended for those with copper and/or lead plumbing; discoloration or staining issues; wells never tested for metals; or where previous tests have indicated the presence of arsenic

Other notes
• Annual testing of your well for bacteria and nitrates is recommended.
• Testing for metals is recommended every 5 to 10 years or whenever there is a change in water quality.
• Specific bottles must be used to collect the water samples and need to be picked up at the LCD office. Homeowners / bacteria tests require different bottles than metal tests.
• Water sample must be collected the day sample is returned to the LCD for shipping. Samples can only be returned Monday-Wednesday before 11:00 a.m. unless prior arrangements are made. (Schedule will differ during holiday weeks).
• The LCD staff can help you choose the tests you need and assist you with any questions.

To view the data collected by Taylor County residents over the years analyzed by UWSP WEAL, [click here], then click on “ Use WI Well Water Quality Interactive Viewer.”  This website allows you to pick the test you are interested in and gives results by township.

WELL CLOSURES
Taylor County can provide financial assistance in closing old, abandoned, or unsafe wells. The LCD offers a 70 / 30% cost-share program to close unused wells for the health and safety of Taylor County residents. Old wells can cause contamination of neighboring wells and can be a safety hazard. Work must be completed by a certified well driller.

For more information, contact Klayton Kree, Engineering Technician, 715-748-1469.