Environmental Laboratory Certification Program

The Grants to Counties program provides free testing once a year to private well owners that use a well for drinking water. The free testing includes nitrate, bacteria, arsenic, and manganese. It is recommended that every private well be tested annually for nitrate and bacteria. Arsenic and manganese should be tested at least once, then every five years or more frequently if detected levels are near the health advisory (HA) or maximum contaminant level (MCL). Public health officials use a HA or MCL value to determine whether your water is safe to drink. Other chemicals may be eligible. The program is run by your county health department.

If your water has a bad taste, odor, or if it is discolored, please call your county health department to report this as soon as possible during normal business hours. These factors may indicate that your well water is unsafe to drink. County health department Grants to Counties contacts are listed on the DNR’s Private Well Program webpage. More information about the private well program can be found on that page as well.

• If you receive a bill for your water, you are on a public water supply.
• If you live in a city and rent your home, apartment, or mobile home, you may be on a public water supply.
• If you have rural water, you are on a public water supply.
• If in doubt, please contact us and we will assist you in determining the source of your drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency requires community water systems to provide a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), to their customers by July 1st each year. The CCR may be called a Water Quality Report (WQR). The CCR/WQR report provides information about your local drinking water. The CCR/WQR contains information about the source of the water, a list of regulated chemicals that have been tested, potential health effects of the chemicals, and the national standards for the chemicals. Most public water supplies post the report on the water supply's or city's webpage. If you cannot find the report on a webpage, you can contact your water supply directly and request the report be sent to you.

If you decide to get your water tested anyway we can assist you with locating a certified laboratory in your area. Please contact Kathy Lee at 515-725-0343 or kathy.lee@dnr.iowa.gov for assistance in locating a certified laboratory.

Please note there will be a fee for testing.

If your water has a bad taste, odor, or if it is discolored, please call the DNR environmental regional field office to report this as soon as possible during normal business hours. These factors may indicate that your water is unsafe to drink. Our listing of DNR Field Offices listed by region will provide contact information.

If you see dead or dying fish anywhere, please call our 24-hour environmental hotline at 515-725-8694 as soon as possible. Waiting several days to call will reduce the likelihood that a specific cause can be identified.