Water Testing: 

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Iron County Health Department recommends homeowners, renters and cabin owners have their well tested annually.  Our certified water lab can test your water for bacteria and nitrate without the shipping hassle. We can ship out samples for other analytes to our partner lab for you. 

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The Iron County Health Department Environmental Health Drinking Water Laboratory is certified by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) to conduct bacteriological testing of public and private (wells) drinking water. We are certified by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for nitrate analysis. The lab also monitors the public drinking water supplies of facilities within Iron County under the  Department of Natural Resources (DNR) transient non-community water (TNC) system program.

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To maintain state certification, the laboratory conducts required proficiency testing and completes required quality assurance and quality control measures.

Iron County Health Department Drinking Water Lab provides convenient, reliable and reasonably priced well water testing for both home and vacation properties. This service is available to anyone; you do not need to be a resident of Iron County. Lab tests completed onsite include total coliform/ E. Coli bacteria and nitrate, with definitive results within 48 hours. Through partnership with UW-Oshkosh ERIC Lab, Iron County offers additional testing options including nitrite, lead and arsenic.

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Private Well Testing:

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Water testing is an inexpensive and effective way of assuring a safe well water supply. It is estimated that 20-25% of Wisconsin wells have bacterial contamination. Iron County Health Department advises all private well owners to have their well water tested annually for coliform bacteria. If there are infants under 6 months of age or women of childbearing age consuming the well water, a nitrate test is recommended as well.

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How do I test my private well drinking water?

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•  Obtain water sample bottles, instructions and test request form from the Iron County Health Department, 210 5th Ave N, Hurley, WI 54534

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•  Collect your water sample by following the step by step instructions on the back of the test request form

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•  Submit your sample(s) to the Health Department within 24 hours of collection. Test request form(s) and applicable fees must be submitted with the sample(s) to: ICHD

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•  Drop off hours are Monday - Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm. Schedule subject to change during holidays.

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FEES

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• Total Coliform/E. Coli - $20

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• Nitrate - $20

• Both Coliform and Nitrate -$35

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• Arsenic - $25

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• Lead - $35

 

Please contact us if you need Iron County to collect the sample, additional fees apply for that service.

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