Well owners should be alert after heavy rainfall last week

Well owners should be on alert after heavy rainfall last week.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging private well owners to test their drinking water after the recent stretch of heavy rain and flooding. The DNR says floodwaters and runoff can carry bacteria and other contaminants into wells, especially those in low‑lying areas, pits, or basements. If your water suddenly changes in taste, color, or clarity, officials say to assume the well is contaminated: stop drinking the water, disinfect the well and test it again before using it.

In those cases, the DNR recommends that residents stop drinking the water immediately and use another safe source of water. Well owners should then disinfect the well, a process the agency said is best handled by a licensed well driller or pump installer with the proper equipment and expertise.

The DNR recommends annual testing for bacteria and nitrates, and more guidance is available on its Coping with Flooding and private wells webpages.