Forms & Guidance

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How to Obtain Well Water Testing

Your local county environmental health office can help you arrange water testing or you can request a water sample test kit from a certified drinking water laboratory of your choice. The water is then sampled and sent to the laboratory for analysis.

At a minimum, you should test for coliform bacteria and nitrates on a yearly basis, and for arsenic at least once during the life of each well. Depending on the local geology and land use where your well is located, there may be other contaminants that you should test for too. Find out more by visiting our Private Well Testing web page.

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Well and Water System Inspections

Are you buying or selling a property with a private well? If so, you should obtain a well and water system inspection before the sale so you know the condition of these resources.

When you need an inspection of your well or water system, please contact your Iowa DNR Certified Well Contractor. Check out the resources below.

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Well Guidance for Flooded Areas

During times of flooding, there's an increased risk that drinking water wells may become contaminated with bacteria and/or any other contaminants that may be present in the flood water.

Any water well and water system, whether deep or shallow, can become contaminated when flooding occurs. Water testing is the only way to know if your well is safe to drink.

Please see our "What should I do when my well floods" document for additional information on this important topic.

Did You Know?

Iowa has:

310 contractors who are certified to drill new wells and renovate old wells.

435 contractors who are certified to install and service well pumps and water systems, and renovate old wells.

And 752 contractors who are certified in one of two categories to plug water wells.

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Iowa's Private Well Tracking System

The Iowa DNR Private Well Tracking System (PWTS) is used by county and state staff to track private well construction permitting, water testing, well renovations and well plugging.

The PWTS is designed as an authorized user type of data system for the purpose of Iowa's well program record keeping. The general public can create an account and view the information stored in the system.

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IIHR-IGS GeoSam Database

GeoSam is Iowa’s geologic site and sample tracking program maintained by IIHR-Iowa Geological Survey.

GeoSam provides location, identification, and other key information about every available well, rock exposure, or site of geologic information in Iowa. GeoSam can be searched using either a map-based or text-based interface.

The GeoSam does not require a login to view information stored in the system.

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GP6 Well Siting Tool

GP6 Well Siting Tool - The tool is useful for performing desk evaluations of well sites and help determine if the well location will likely require discharge management through General Permit #6 (GP6). It also helps define which locations likely cannot support well construction discharge due to close proximity of Outstanding Iowa Waters (OIWs). As a user of this tool, you have access to map layers that will help you identify distances to surface waters and OIWs, locations of sinkholes, karst areas, land slope, and more. It also allows you to print the map you create to use as a resource.

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Forms, Guidance and Private Well Rules

Who uses private wells?

Approximately 282,000 Iowans obtain their water from a private water supply - nearly all groundwater supply wells.

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More Resources

  • Private Well Information Booklet

    A guidance booklet designed to help private well owners understand private well construction, water quality, and overall well ownership. it includes important information you should know before you hire a contractor to construct your water well. IDNR publication no. 542-8168

  • Well Water Quality and Home Treatment Systems

    A publication from the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa. This booklet provides an overview of common well water contaminants and the water treatment systems commonly used reduce or remove the contaminants.

  • Iowa Geological Survey's Iowa's Groundwater Basics

    A Geological Guide to the Occurrence, Use, and Vulnerability of Iowa's Aquifers.

  • Iowa DNR Facility Explorer

    This is a GIS based mapping system that allows you to view information about many of the permitted sites and other recorded sites around the state.

  • Iowa DNR Contaminated Sites Database

    This website allows the public to search and find information about contaminated sites and print out results.

  • Cumulative Risk Calculator

    The cumulative risk calculator can assess risk to potentially exposed parties, based on three standard exposure scenarios, from multiple contaminants and multiple media (i.e., groundwater, soil, and air).

Fact Sheets

A phone attached to a headset, laying on a desk.
Report a Spill

If in doubt, report it!

Quick reporting of hazardous spills is critical in providing the best emergency response. Call the Iowa DNR and local law enforcement right away.

Call our 24-hour line at 515-725-8694

Additional Spill Guidance

Additional Web Resources

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