Morehead Bridge on 74th Street over the Maquoketa River is CLOSED until further notice!More Information

Private Well Water Testing

Jackson County offers water testing to private well owners in the County. Free testing may be available through the Private Well Grant. The Private Well Grant was established in 1987 when our legislature passed the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act to help prevent further contamination of one of Iowa’s most precious resources, our groundwater. Funds are made available to local county health departments to provide financial assistance to their residents for private well water services.

Winter Water Testing Update (December–March)

Due to winter weather, routine private well water testing is paused until spring.
For homes involved in real estate transactions, or emergency testing:

✔ The property owner must request the water test directly.
✔ Testing is weather-dependent and scheduled only on certain days (see schedule below).
✔ Driveways and walkways must be clear and safe.
✔ Indoor access must be available.

Thank you for your understanding as we work to keep residents safe and ensure accurate water results during the winter months.

What We Test For

Routine Water Testing (E.coli, Total Coliform, Nitrate).

Other Testing May be Available:

Arsenic Testing upon special request only
PFAS Testing upon special request and DNR approval

Testing Schedule

We provide water testing for private wells at the following days & times:

Tuesday | 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thursday | 9:00 am -12:00 pm

Applying For Your Water Test

To schedule your free water test click here: Free Private Well Water Test Application ***Recommended option***

Paper Application Option (Accommodation)
For residents who cannot complete the GeoPermits online application, a paper form is available in our office upon request. Please note:

Online applications remain the preferred and fastest method
Paper forms must be completed by the owner of the well
Paper applications are processed once per week
Test results must be picked up at the Environmental Health office on the second Friday following your test collection date
Results will not be mailed

Environmental Health

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