Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing Program

The Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing (WisPPWT) program provides PFAS sampling assistance to private well owners and users who are not able to sample their well through the Community Grants Sampling Program.

The DNR will provide eligible private well owners and users with a home sampling kit at no cost to the applicant. The private well owner or user will collect a water sample from their faucet and ship it to a lab for analysis. Once the lab analyzes the water sample, the DNR will share the results with the private well owner or user.

WisPPWT Eligibility

Private well owners or users must answer a series of questions about their well and other sampling efforts within their area to determine if their well is “conditionally eligible” or “not eligible” for sampling through WisPPWT.

• "Conditionally eligible" means the well may be eligible for sampling through WisPPWT. Specifically:
  • the private well has not been previously sampled by the DNR, AND
  • the private well is NOT being sampled as part of a Community Grants Sampling Program.

The DNR will request additional information about wells that are “conditionally eligible” to verify eligibility for sampling through WisPPWT.

• "Not eligible" means the private well cannot be sampled under WisPPWT. Private wells are not eligible for sampling through WisPPWT if any of the following apply:
  • You are receiving bottled water from the DNR or a responsible party due to known PFAS contamination in your well.
  • You get your drinking water from a Public Water System.
  • Your well was reconstructed through the DNR's well compensation grant program or other means, such as by a responsible party in an area of known PFAS contamination.
  • The well serves a business that is a transient non-community water system.

Wells that are not eligible for sampling through WisPPWT may be eligible for sampling by a municipality through the Community Grants Sampling Program or through a different sampling program.

WisPPWT Application Review

Owners or users of private wells found to be conditionally eligible for sampling through WisPPWT will be asked to provide their contact information, the address of the well and information about the well. The DNR staff will use this information to verify if the well will be approved for a home sampling kit through WisPPWT.

Some wells found to be conditionally eligible for sampling through WisPPWT during the initial screening questionnaire may be not eligible after further review by the DNR's staff.

Well Sampling Process

Owners or users of wells found to be eligible for sampling through WisPPWT will be shipped a home sampling kit, instructions for collecting a water sample and a pre-paid shipping label. The well owner or user will collect the water sample and ship it to the lab for analysis. After the water sample is analyzed for PFAS, the DNR will contact the well owner or user with the results.

Sampling And Analysis Timeline

Owners or users of a private well that are conditionally eligible for the WisPPWT program can expect to hear from DNR staff within approximately one month after the survey has been submitted for verification of eligibility.

After DNR staff have verified the well is eligible for sampling through WisPPWT, the well owner or user can expect to receive a sampling kit shipped through UPS in 1-4 weeks.

Once a correctly collected sample has been received by the lab, well owners can expect to receive sample results in 4-6 weeks. Depending on workload, this may be delayed.

The total time to receive sample results after an online application is submitted is approximately 3-4 months.

Temporary Water Supply

Private well owners and users who find PFAS levels in their water at levels above the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' (DHS) health advisory levels, may be eligible to receive a temporary alternative supply of drinking water from the DNR. Information about temporary alternative water programs will be communicated along with the sample results.

Financial Assistance For Additional Actions

Private well owners and users who find PFAS levels in their water may be eligible for financial assistance through the Well Compensation Grant Program for corrective actions such as installing treatment, constructing or reconstructing a well or connecting to a public water supply and abandoning a contaminated well. Information about other financial assistance programs from the DNR will be communicated alongside sample results.

Questions

Questions about WisPPWT can be submitted to DNRPFASInquiries@wisconsin.gov. It may be up to 7 days before you receive a response.

Complete Eligibility Questionnaire

Frequently Asked Questions About WisPPWT

What is WisPPWT?

The Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing (WisPPWT) program is a program for private well owners and users to test their private drinking water wells in cases where their municipality elects not to participate in a Community Grants Sampling Program. In WisPPWT, eligible private well owners or users receive a cost-free PFAS sampling kit from the DNR. The private well owner or user collects a water sample from their well and ships it to the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (WSLH) for analysis.

Who is eligible for WisPPWT?

WisPPWT is primarily for private well owners and users in communities that are not planning to participate in Community Grants Sampling Programs. Eligibility is described in the table below.

Is my private well eligible for sampling under WisPPWT?	Conditionally eligible	Not eligible
You get your drinking water from a private well that you own or rent and has not been previously tested for PFAS by the DNR AND Your community is not planning to participate in the Community Grants Sampling Program	X	-
You are receiving bottled water due to known PFAS contamination in your well	-	X
You get your drinking water from a Public Drinking Water System	-	X
Your well was reconstructed through the DNR's well compensation program or other means, such as by a responsible party in an area of known PFAS contamination	-	X
The well serves a business that is a transient, non-community water system	-	X

I live in a community with public drinking water sourced from a well. Can I have my water tested?

No, the WisPPWT program assists owners or users of private wells with sampling for PFAS.

Community water systems served by wells such as those serving mobile home parks or municipalities are considered public drinking water systems and are already required to sample for PFAS as part of the Safe Drinking Water Act and take specific actions if PFAS are found at levels above state standards. Water quality information for public water systems can be found in the Drinking Water System database on the DNR's website or in the Consumer Confidence Report published by public drinking water providers each year.

Is there a cost to have my well sampled under WisPPWT?

No, there is no cost to a private well owner or user to participate in the WisPPWT sampling program. Private well owners and users found to be eligible for sampling through WisPPWT will receive a home sampling kit, pre-paid shipping label and laboratory analysis of their water sample at no cost.

How do I apply for testing under WisPPWT?

Private well owners or users who are interested in sampling their well through WisPPWT should complete the Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing questionnaire to determine if they are conditionally eligible for sampling through this program.

Who can I contact with questions about filling out the online WisPPWT application?

Questions about the questionnaire and application can be submitted to DNRDGPFASSampleRequest@wisconsin.gov.

Are paper applications available?

Paper applications are not currently available. The DNR is working to develop additional application formats, including paper applications. Applicants without access to the internet are encouraged to ask a family member or neighbor for assistance or visit a public library within their community that has computers with internet access available for use.

What happens after I submit an application under WisPPWT?

A DNR staff member will review your application to verify that the well is eligible to be sampled for PFAS through WisPPWT. Once staff verify the well's eligibility, they will contact the applicant through letter or email about next steps. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received, and it may take up to 4 weeks for DNR staff to process an application. If DNR staff have questions regarding an application, they will contact the applicant for assistance. To ensure timely processing of the applications, applicants are encouraged to reply promptly if they are contacted by DNR staff with questions.

Will I be notified of the status of my application?

Yes. Private well-owners and users will receive a letter or email notifying them of the status of their application about a month after their application has been submitted.

If approved, the DNR will direct the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (WSLH) to ship a home sampling kit to the applicant. Private well owners and users can expect to receive a cardboard box containing the home sampling kit from WSLH approximately 1-4 weeks after the DNR approves their application.

If I am approved for sampling, how long will it take to receive a sampling kit?

The amount of time it will take to receive a home sampling kit will depend on the number of applications submitted to the DNR. Once approved to sample a well through WisPPWT, it may take up to one month to receive the home sample kit at the address provided in the application.

I own a business that is served by a private well. Is my business eligible for sampling?

A private well that serves a business may be eligible to receive a sampling kit under WisPPWT, as long as it is not considered a public water system. A business that serves water from a private well to more than 25 people at least 60 days a year is considered a public water system (i.e., a transient non-community public water system). More information about understanding if a well is considered a transient non-community well is available on the Transient Non-Community (TN) Resources webpage.

What are the steps for collecting the water samples?

The private well owner or user will collect a water sample from an unfiltered or untreated faucet. The steps are:

• Turn on the water and let the faucet run for approximately one minute. Ensure there are no solids, such as calcium flakes or sediments, present in the water.
• Once a minute has passed, open the bottle provided by the laboratory and fill it to the shoulder (i.e., where the bottle tapers) with water from that faucet. Do not over fill the bottle. Replace the cap on the bottle and ensure it is sealed.

If solids, such as calcium flakes or sediments are present in the water sample, dump the bottle and continue to run the faucet until the water runs clear. Well owners and users should not attempt to pick out flakes or other solids from the water.

• Open the second bottle provided by the laboratory and collect a second sample from the running water. Fill the second bottle to the shoulder and replace the cap on the bottle.
• Follow the remaining instructions for re-packaging your sample and putting it on ice prior to shipping it to the lab.

Additional Resources For Sampling Your Well

In addition to the written instructions included in the home sample kit, these videos may assist with the sampling process:

• Unpacking your home sampling kit: EPA 1633A Water/Effluent - Unpacking Your PFAS Kit - YouTube
• Taking your PFAS Sample: Homeowners - EPA 1633A for Water - Taking Your PFAS Sample - YouTube
• Labeling Bottles and Filling out Paperwork: Homeowners - Labeling Bottles and Filling Out Paperwork - YouTube
• Repacking your PFAS home sampling kit: EPA 1633A and EPA 537.1 - Repackaging Your Kit for Shipment - YouTube

Who can I contact with questions about how to correctly collect my sample with the home sampling kit?

Please contact the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene PFAS laboratory at 608-262-3750 or WSLHPFAS@slh.wisc.edu for assistance.

How do I return my sample bottles after I have collected a sample from my well?

Please use the pre-paid return shipping label provided in the kit with your sampling supplies. The samples must be packed on ice, sealed and taken to a UPS facility. A video showing how to properly package the samples can be found here.

NOTE: Please do not ship samples on Friday or Saturday as the laboratory is not open to receive the package on weekends.

How will I know when my sample has been received at the lab?

You can track the status of your package via the UPS Tracking Number provided on the shipping label. The laboratory will not notify homeowners that the package arrived at the lab.

How long will it take to receive sample results once my sample has arrived at the lab?

The total time to receive sample results after an online application is submitted is approximately 3-4 months.

• Well owners or users who are conditionally eligible for the WisPPWT program can expect to hear from DNR staff within approximately one month after the survey has been submitted for verification of eligibility.
• After DNR staff have verified the well is eligible for sampling through WisPPWT, the well owner or user can expect to receive a sampling kit shipped through UPS in 1-4 weeks.
• Once a correctly collected sample has been received by the lab, well owners can expect to receive sample results in 4-6 weeks.

What happens if PFAS are found in my well?

Potential next steps will depend on the amount of PFAS in your well water.

If PFAS are detected in your well at levels above the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' (DHS) health advisory levels, you may:

• receive a well-specific drinking water advisory from DHS, the DNR or a local health department.
• be eligible to receive a temporary alternative drinking water supply.
• be eligible for financial assistance for corrective actions such as installing treatment, constructing or reconstructing a well, connecting to another water supply or public water system, and/or abandoning the contaminated well.

The DNR will provide additional information on how to access these programs along with a letter containing the sampling results.

If PFAS are NOT detected in your well at levels above the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' (DHS) health advisory levels, you are not eligible for temporary alternative water or other financial assistance programs. Information about reducing exposure to PFAS is available on the DHS website.

What programs are available to assist with PFAS contaminated private wells?

Should the sample analysis find an exceedance of DHS' drinking water health advisory levels in one or more of the types of PFAS included in the analysis, there may be financial assistance available to help reduce exposure to PFAS through drinking water. Please note the list below is not exhaustive, nor does it contain the full eligibility provisions of each grant program.

• Private well owners and users may be eligible for a grant through the Well Compensation Grant Program.
• Residences that have received a well-specific drinking water advisory from the DHS, the DNR or a local health department may be eligible to receive a temporary alternative drinking water supply from the DNR. PFAS-impacted well owners and users will be provided with information about program eligibility along with their sampling results letter.

How do I request temporary bottled drinking water service?

You may be eligible to receive temporary bottled drinking water if PFAS are detected in your well at levels above the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' (DHS) health advisory levels. After you receive a well-specific drinking water advisory, the DNR will provide you with a form to complete to request temporary bottled water as part of your sampling results letter if you are eligible.

Before receiving temporary bottled water from the DNR, you would be required to enter into an agreement with the DNR that you will be responsible for the proper maintenance of any physical equipment provided as part of the temporary alternative drinking water supply.

Email completed forms to DNRTempWater@wisconsin.gov. Completed forms can also be mailed to the following:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Gwen Saliares
625 East Cty Rd Y, Suite 700
Oshkosh, WI 54901

Who can I contact about health-related questions about PFAS in drinking water?

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) can assist with questions about the health impacts of PFAS. Contact DHS at DHSEnvHealth@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

Can I receive temporary alternative drinking water if PFAS levels in my water are below the Health Advisory Levels (HALs)?

Private wells with levels of PFAS below the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' Health Advisory Levels (HALs) are generally not eligible for temporary alternative water.

How long can I receive temporary alternative drinking water after PFAS is found at or above Health Advisory Levels (HALs) in my private well?

Bottled drinking water may be provided on a temporary basis, or until the DNR confirms one or more of the following has occurred:

• Results of laboratory analysis confirm that well water does not meet or exceed Department of Health Services' (DHS) health advisory levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS);
• The contaminated water supply has been replaced by an uncontaminated water supply (e.g., drinking water treatment, well reconstruction, connection to a municipal drinking water supply, or other long-term solution); and/or
• The private water supply has returned to an uncontaminated condition.

Who can I contact with questions about the temporary bottled drinking water service that I am already receiving?

Questions about an existing temporary bottled water agreement can be submitted to DNRTempWater@wisconsin.gov.

Who can I contact with questions about the Well Compensation Grant Program?

The Well Compensation Grant Program website includes contact information for staff who can help with questions.