Well Drilling and Testing in the Fox Valley, WI
Around Appleton and Oshkosh, the main thing to know about a private well is arsenic. Here is how often to test and what a driller can do about a high result.
Around Appleton, Oshkosh and nearby
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.
Test for arsenic every year
For most of Wisconsin, the DNR suggests an arsenic test every five years. For wells in Outagamie, Winnebago and Brown counties, it advises a test every year. The same goes for any well that has shown arsenic before.
A lab test from a certified lab is how you find out the level in your water.
If the result is high
Above 10 micrograms per liter, the state health department advises against using the water to cook foods that soak up a lot of it, and the DNR has guidance on next steps.
Options include treating the water, or a well built or rebuilt to draw from a different depth. A driller can read your Well Construction Report and those of nearby wells to see which depth is likely to be better.
Pump work brings an arsenic test
When a licensed pump installer opens an existing well for pump work, samples for arsenic and nitrate are required along with bacteria. If your pump is due for work, that sample doubles as your test.
Questions to ask
- What do nearby wells show for arsenic?
- Would a new or rebuilt well draw from a better depth here?
- Is treatment a better fit for my house?
- Which certified lab runs the test, and how long do results take?
Fox Valley questions
Will pump work test for arsenic too?
Yes. When a licensed pump installer opens an existing well, arsenic and nitrate samples are required along with bacteria.
Is city water an option?
That depends on whether a water main reaches your street. Ask your town or city.
Ready when you are
Call now, or send the form. A local pro calls you back, usually the same business day.
Calls are recorded for quality assurance.