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Understanding My Laboratory Results
Need your well water results explained? We can help.
The Wisconsin Be Well Informed Tool can help you make sense of your private well water laboratory results and access recommendations for next steps based on current state water quality guidelines and standards. Try it out today!
Instructions
- Click on the button above, select Wisconsin from the drop-down menu, and then click “Go”.
- Enter your well water results in the pop-up window.
- When comparing test results to water quality standards it is important to check the unit of measure. For example, some labs report nitrate concentrations as parts per million (ppm) while others use milligrams per liter (mg/L). Lead and other contaminant concentrations may be reported as parts per billion (ppb) or as micrograms per liter (µg/L).
- If your units don’t match those in the tool, you can use an online conversion calculator. If you need assistance with conversions, contact the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene Environmental Laboratories at 800-442-4618.
- Once you have entered your results, scroll down and press “Submit”. This will generate a report that you can download by clicking on the PDF symbol and saving.
- If you have questions after reading your results, select the “Resources” tab at the top of the pop-up.
If you have any questions about the tool, reach out to Anya Jeninga-Nehls at anya.jeninga@wisc.edu.
The Be Well Informed Tool is hosted by the Environmental Council of the States. The Wisconsin Be Well Informed Tool was created by University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension.
Want more information?
Extension’s interactive guide – Water WELLness: Managing Your Private Well Water System — will help you learn how to care for your private well, keeping your water clean, safe, and reliable.
Contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at dhsenvhealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov with questions about your health and drinking water.
Contaminants in drinking water, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Download a brief guide on How to Read Your Private Well Lab Report.
