Dec. 4, 2025
Rural Wisconsin residents who rely on private wells now have a free online resource to help interpret their water test results and learn what steps to take to keep drinking water safe.
The Wisconsin Be Well Informed Tool, created by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and state health and environmental agencies, allows users to compare their lab results to current state water quality standards. The tool provides recommendations for addressing contaminants such as nitrate, arsenic and lead.
To use the tool, visit this website, select Wisconsin from the drop-down menu and enter your test results. Be sure to check the units of measurement — for example, nitrate may be listed in parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/L), while lead may appear in parts per billion (ppb) or micrograms per liter (µg/L). If you need help converting units, call the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene at 800-442-4618.
After submitting your results, you can download a personalized report and access additional resources through the tool’s “Resources” tab.
For questions about the tool, email anya.jeninga@wisc.edu. For health-related concerns, contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at dhsenvhealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov.
Additional resources:
- Water WELLness Guide: https://extension.wisc.edu/water-wellness
- Contaminants in Drinking Water: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/DrinkingWater
- How to Read Your Private Well Lab Report (English, Hmong, Spanish): https://wslh.wisc.edu/water
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