The Wood County Water Lab will be closed October 24-28, 2022 due to an Environmental Health staff conference.
We will NOT be accepting samples during that week, however bottles can still be purchased at the reception desk.
Wood County Water Laboratory
The Wood County Water Laboratory provides convenient, reliable, and reasonably priced water testing services to the citizens
of Wood County and surrounding counties, with the goal of safer water supplies.
Why and When to Test Well Water
EPA regulations that protect public drinking water systems do not apply to privately owned wells. As a result, owners of
private wells are responsible for ensuring that their water is safe from contaminants. Homeowners should test their wells
annually or whenever there is a change in color, odor or taste of the water. Regular maintenance of your well is required
to ensure the continued safety of your water and to monitor for the presence of any contaminants. It is recommended that
water be tested when someone in the home is pregnant or may become pregnant, or if there is a new baby in the home.
Most Wisconsin wells provide safe water. However, bacterial and chemical contaminants can pollute groundwater in a variety
of ways.
Well Water Testing Services
The Wood County Water Laboratory offers lab services for public and private well owners to test their water for nitrate
and bacteria.
The lab also provides bacteria testing for recreational waters and can provide quanti-tray testing for bacteria counts in
water. The Wood County Water Laboratory is located at:
Wood County Health Department (Map)
3rd Floor, Wood County River Block Building
111 W Jackson St
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495
Laboratory Hours
Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
The lab will be closed on the day before a holiday and the holiday.
This year, the lab will be closed on the following holiday dates:
April 14th, 2022
May 30, 2022
July 4, 2022
September 5, 2022
November 23-27th, 2022
December 26, 2022
January 2, 2023
Obtaining a Water Test Kit
The Water Laboratory may only accept water samples in approved sample containers. Homeowners may obtain an approved container,
instructions, and a lab submission form by visiting the Health Department reception desk Monday through Friday from 8:00
AM - 4:30 PM. Water test kits are also available at the front desk of the Adams and Juneau County Health Departments.
Results will be ready within one week.
Samples are accepted at the Health Department Reception Desk: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Water Sample Collection
Homeowners are responsible for collecting their own water samples and for returning the samples to the laboratory. Samples
may be collected from any faucet supplied with cold water. For nitrate testing, it is advisable to collect water from an
untreated source of water. If a homeowner is checking the effectiveness of a nitrate removal system, the sample must be
collected after the treatment system and this should be noted on the lab sample request form.
Returning a Water Sample
After you collect a bacteria sample, keep it refrigerated or on ice until you return the sample to the lab. Nitrate samples
must be placed on ice until the sample is delivered to the water lab. The Adams and Juneau County Health Departments will
accept samples on one or two days each month. Please ask for these dates when you pick up your test kit.
Bacteria samples must be analyzed within 30 hours of collection. Nitrate samples must be analyzed within 48 hours of collection.
Sample Rejection Criteria
Water samples may be rejected if:
- Samples cannot be analyzed within 30 hours of collection for bacteria or 48 hours for nitrate.
- Samples are in an unapproved, notably dirty, or damaged container.
- Samples have been frozen.
- Samples do not contain the required amount of water.
- Nitrate samples are not received on ice. *
* Note: Samples not received on ice meet the Wisconsin DNR sample acceptance requirements but do not meet the SDWA requirements.
Fees
The following fees apply effective 1/1/2019.
- Drinking Water Test (single bacteria or nitrate):
- $20.00
- Bacteria only, Recreational Water:
- $20.00
- Bacteria and Nitrate:
- $40.00
- Bacteria Count—FSMA—quantitray:
- $20.00
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