Drinking Water

The United States has one of the most reliable and safest drinking water networks in the world. This is thanks in large part to federal regulation such as the Safe Drinking Water Act, passed in 1974. However, federal regulation doesn’t cover all drinking water sources, and many sources (such as cisterns and wells) aren’t required to be tested. This can lead to serious issues with local drinking water quality, and many aren’t aware of how severe some of these issues can be.

For example, here in Rusk County:

  •  An estimated 40% of Rusk County residents drink well water from federally unregulated sources. 

  • Only 16% of well owners have their water tested. 
  • 47% of private wells could be contaminated with one or more contaminants, so having well water tested is very important

For more information about Rusk County’s water source and contaminants, you can check out the infographic on the left hand side of this web page. 

 

 

Contaminant Information

Many Wisconsin residents drink well water from federally unregulated sources. Learn more about specific contaminants that might be in your water supply and the health effects they can cause. 

What's wrong with my water? Identify your water's symptoms.

 

Well Water Testing

Regular maintenance of your well is required to ensure continued safety of your water and to monitor for the presence of any contaminants. Rusk County Public Health Water Laboratory offers a variety of tests for homeowners with private wells.

 

Well Remediation

After confirmation of contaminants in your private well water, learn what your next steps are.

 

Groundwater and Well Data Look-up

You will want to find data from several sources to learn about the likely quantity and quality of groundwater in a geographic area; WI DNR's Groundwater website contains such sources.

 

DNR Transient Non-Community Well

Rusk County Health & Human Services is also an agent for the DNR Transient Non-Community Well Program (TNC) & WI Department of Agriculture Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP).