Well water testing in Dane County, WI
Public Health Madison & Dane County stopped testing well water in October 2025. The State Lab of Hygiene in Madison tests it: bacteria is $35 and the lab bills you later. Order a kit by phone or pick one up. Bacteria samples over 48 hours old are not tested.
- Bacteria test
- $35
- Bacteria + nitrate
- $78
- Sample
- You take the sample
Dane County does not test well water itself. The labs below take samples from its residents.
Where to get your well tested
State labState certified
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), Environmental Health Division
| Bacteria (total coliform / E. coli), present or absentcoliform bacteria and E. coliResults in about 2 business days. | $35 |
| Fluoridefluoride | $33 |
| NitratenitrateResults in about 3 business days. Rush: $70, about 1 business day. | $35 |
| NitritenitriteThe sample must reach the lab on ice. Rush: $76. | $38 |
All 18 tests and prices
| ArsenicarsenicResults in about 10 business days. Rush: $76. | $38 |
| LeadleadRush: $76. | $38 |
| CoppercopperRush: $76. | $38 |
| IronironRush: $76. | $38 |
| ManganesemanganeseRush: $76. | $38 |
| Hardness (calcium, magnesium)hardnessRush: $92. | $46 |
| Atrazine screenpesticidesResults in about 21 business days. | $71 |
| Iron bacteriaother items | $72 |
| Metals Screenarsenic, copper, iron, lead, manganese, hardness and other itemsAluminum, arsenic, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, strontium, vanadium, zinc and hardness. Results in about 10 business days. Rush: $194. | $97 |
| Radon in waterradonUsually not needed unless radon in your home's air is high. Call the lab for advice before ordering. | $111 |
| Volatile organic chemicals (VOC) screenVOCsResults in about 21 business days. | $141 |
| HUD/FHA-VA Loan Packagecoliform bacteria, E. coli, lead, nitrate and nitriteThe tests HUD and the VA require on a private well before an FHA or VA home loan. 3-bottle kit. Results in about 7 business days. Rush: $292, about 2 business days. | $146 |
| Arsenic speciationarsenicFor wells with high total arsenic. | $150 |
| Homeowner PackageBacteria, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, a metals screen, hardness, a VOC screen and an atrazine screen. 5-bottle kit. Results in about 21 business days. | $450 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Order a kit by phone, or pick one up at the Customer Service desk in the lobby at 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison. The lab ships kits to you for free.
- WSLH Customer Service desk, 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison
- Returning the sample
- Drop off your sample at the Customer Service desk, or ship it to the lab. Do not ship on a Friday for Saturday delivery: the building is closed on weekends and holidays. Do not send payment with the sample. The lab bills you.
- Drop-off hours
- Monday to Friday, 7:45am to 4:30pm
- Time limit
- Bacteria samples more than 48 hours old when they reach the lab are not tested.
- By mail
- Yes, samples can be mailed.
- Results in
- About 2 business days for bacteria and 3 for nitrate. Metals take about 10 business days, and the Homeowner Package about 21.
- Good to know
- Use only the bottles the lab sends. Samples in other bottles may be rejected.
- Address
- 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI
Kit orders from Dane County: 608-224-6202
University labState certified
UW-Stevens Point Water and Environmental Analysis Lab (WEAL)
| Coliform/E. coli (present or absent)coliform bacteria and E. coliPriority results in 48 hours cost double. Confirm with the lab first. | $30 |
| Coliform/E. coli (count)coliform bacteria and E. coli | $41 |
| Homeowner Packagecoliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, pH, hardness, chloride and other itemsColiform bacteria, nitrate plus nitrite, pH, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, conductivity and corrosivity index. If coliform bacteria are found, the sample is also checked for E. coli. | $78 |
| Homeowner Package with Bacteria Countcoliform bacteria, nitrate, nitrite, pH, hardness, chloride and other itemsThe Homeowner Package plus a count of bacteria colonies. | $91 |
All 17 tests and prices
| Nitrate + nitritenitrate and nitrite | $29 |
| Fluoridefluoride | $29 |
| Single metalother itemsPrice per element. | $30 |
| Total hardnesshardness | $30 |
| Atrazine screen (DACT)pesticidesSuggested if nitrate results are high. | $45 |
| Low-level arsenic, lead or uraniumarsenic, lead and uraniumPrice per element. | $55 |
| New Well / Well Drillers packagecoliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate and nitriteCompliance bacteria and nitrate tests for new wells under state rules. The lab reports results to the state. | $61 |
| Standard Metals Package14 elements: aluminum, arsenic, calcium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, strontium, sulfate, uranium and zinc. | $75 |
| Specialty Metals Packageother items12 elements: barium, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, lithium, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver and vanadium. | $79 |
| Well Inspection / Well Work packagecoliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate, nitrite and arsenicCompliance bacteria, nitrate and arsenic tests for well inspections and well work under state rules. The lab reports results to the state. | $116 |
| Nitrogen and phosphorus pesticidespesticides22 pesticides. | $158 |
| Infant/Children/Pregnancy PackageThe Homeowner Package, the Standard Metals Package and fluoride. Needs 3 bottles. | $175 |
| Comprehensive Homeowner PackageThe Homeowner Package, the Standard Metals Package and an atrazine screen (DACT). Needs 3 bottles. | $191 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Order a kit online, by phone, or in person at the lab. The lab mails bottles and instructions to you at no cost, or you can pick them up at the lab in Stevens Point.
- UW-Stevens Point Water and Environmental Analysis Lab, Room 200, Trainer Natural Resources Building, 800 Reserve Street, Stevens Point
- Returning the sample
- Mail the sample or bring it to the lab. To mail a bacteria sample, take it on a Monday or Tuesday around 2pm and send it overnight (Spee-Dee, UPS, FedEx or USPS). Bacteria samples are not accepted on Fridays or before or on major holidays (in 2026: Jan 19, May 25, Sept 7, Nov 25 to 27 and Dec 21 to 31). You pay when the lab accepts the sample, by cash, check or card. If you ship it, include a check made out to WEAL.
- Drop-off hours
- Monday to Thursday, 7:45am to 4pm. Samples for metals or the atrazine screen only can also come in on Fridays.
- Time limit
- Bacteria samples must reach the lab within 40 hours of collection (24 hours for new wells and compliance samples).
- By mail
- Yes, samples can be mailed.
- Results in
- Homeowner and metals packages take about 10 business days. Bacteria alone takes about 1 week. Atrazine, pesticides and fluoride take 3 to 4 weeks.
- Good to know
- Nitrate and metals results from the homeowner packages can't be used for state compliance. Call the lab if you need compliance testing.
- Address
- 800 Reserve Street, Stevens Point, WI 54481
Public programState certified
Rock County Public Health Department Laboratory
| Bacteria (coliform + E. coli)coliform bacteria and E. coli | $31 |
| Bacteria with MPN investigative countcoliform bacteria and E. coliThe bacteria test plus a bacteria count ($5 more). | $36 |
| Kit shipping and handlingOnly if you want the kit mailed to you. | $7 |
| pHpH | $11 |
| Nitratenitrate | $31 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Pick up a kit at the Public Health Department in Janesville during business hours, or order one by mail or online and pay $7 for shipping.
- Rock County Public Health Department, 3328 N US Hwy 51, Janesville
- Returning the sample
- Bring your sample to the Public Health Department in Janesville in person. Pay when you drop it off, by cash, check, money order or card.
- By mail
- No, samples can't be mailed.
- Good to know
- Tests for arsenic, lead, other metals, VOCs and pesticides can be set up through the department with partner labs. Call for details.
- Address
- 3328 N US Hwy 51, Janesville, WI 53545
Certified private labState certified
Badger Laboratories
| Coliform bacteria (includes E. coli)coliform bacteria and E. coli | $35 |
| Kit shippingOnly if the kit is shipped to you. Pickup is free. | $20 |
| Nitratenitrate | $35 |
| Arsenicarsenic | $35 |
All 17 tests and prices
| Leadlead | $35 |
| Ironiron | $35 |
| Hardnesshardness | $35 |
| Fluoridefluoride | $35 |
| Lead and copperlead and copper | $50 |
| Well Water Safety packagecoliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate and arsenicColiform bacteria (with E. coli), nitrate and arsenic. | $105 |
| Volatile organic compoundsVOCs | $125 |
| Primary Metal Contaminantsarsenic, copper, lead and other itemsAntimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium and thallium. | $150 |
| Secondary Drinking Water ContaminantsAluminum, chloride, copper, fluoride, iron, manganese, pH, silver, sulfate, total dissolved solids and zinc. | $150 |
| Pesticides (69 compounds)pesticides | $175 |
| Herbicidesother items2,4-D, dalapon, dinoseb, pentachlorophenol, picloram and silvex. | $300 |
| PFAS (EPA 537.1, 18 compounds), no field blankPFASFor personal information only. | $400 |
| PFAS (EPA 537.1, 18 compounds), with field blankPFASFor regulatory or legal purposes. | $600 |
- Who takes the sample
- You take the sample
- Getting a bottle
- Order a kit online. Pick it up at Badger Labs in Neenah, Green Bay or Stevens Point, or have it shipped to you for $20.
- Badger Laboratories, Neenah
- Badger Laboratories, Green Bay
- Badger Laboratories, Stevens Point
- Returning the sample
- Fill out the form in the kit and ship the sample to the Neenah lab with payment. You can also pay by card over the phone.
- By mail
- Yes, samples can be mailed.
- How you get results
- The lab report is mailed or emailed to you, as you choose.
- Address
- 501 W Bell St, Neenah, WI 54956
Free and lower-cost testing
Open
Wisconsin Well Testing Access Program (WellTAP)
Who qualifies: Households whose private well serves their main home, where someone is pregnant, a child 12 or younger, or a person with a weakened immune system, and a financial or other burden makes testing on your own hard
Free testing of your well for bacteria, nitrate, fluoride and metals, through your local health department. Public Health Madison & Dane County can tell you if you qualify and connect you with the state program.
Program pageWhat the health department recommends
Test your well each year for bacteria and nitrate/nitrite. Test sooner if there was flooding nearby or if your water tastes, smells or looks different. Test for nitrate as soon as you learn that a pregnant person or infant will live in the home. If you live near PFAS contamination, test your well for PFAS.
This is the county or state health agency's own advice, not ours.
Public Health Madison & Dane County no longer tests drinking water, but it can still help you choose tests and understand your results. The State Lab of Hygiene in Madison can test for PFAS.
Well testing in Dane County: quick answers
How much does well water testing cost in Dane County?
Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), Environmental Health Division charges $35 for "Bacteria (total coliform / E. coli), present or absent". Results in about 2 business days. Prices are from the provider's own fee list, checked Oct 13, 2026.
Who tests well water in Dane County?
Dane County does not run its own well water testing. Residents can use Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), Environmental Health Division, UW-Stevens Point Water and Environmental Analysis Lab (WEAL), Rock County Public Health Department Laboratory, Badger Laboratories.
How do I get a sample bottle in Dane County?
Order a kit by phone, or pick one up at the Customer Service desk in the lobby at 2601 Agriculture Drive, Madison. The lab ships kits to you for free.
How quickly does the sample need to reach the lab?
Bacteria samples more than 48 hours old when they reach the lab are not tested.
Checked Oct 13, 2026 against the provider's own pages. Fees and hours change, so call before you take a sample. Something wrong? corrections@wellwatertestfinder.com
Sources (10)
- publichealthmdc.com/watertesting
- co.rock.wi.us/departments/public-health/environmental-health/private-well-testing
- co.rock.wi.us/home/showpublisheddocument/52998/639032025494870000
- badgerlabs.com/drinking-water-test-requests/
- dhs.wisconsin.gov/water/private.htm
- slh.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/WSLH_2026-Public-Environmental-and-Water-Prices-FINAL_260701.pdf
- slh.wisc.edu/environmental/water/public-health-tests-available-to-wisconsin-citizens/
- slh.wisc.edu/environmental/educational-resources/interpreting-your-laboratory-results/
- uwsp.edu/cwse/test-your-drinking-water/
- uwsp.edu/center-for-watershed-science-and-education/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2026/03/2026-Analysis-Price-List.pdf