Clean drinking water is something most of us take for granted, until a test result raises questions we don’t know how to answer. For the nearly one million Wisconsin residents who rely on private wells, understanding water quality reports can be confusing, technical, and overwhelming. To bridge the gap, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has launched Be Well Informed, a free online tool designated to help private well owners interpret their water test results and take informed action. Private wells are not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, meaning the responsibility for testing and maintaining water quality falls entirely on the well owner. While many residents test their water for contaminants like bacteria, nitrates, or arsenic, the lab reports often come back filled with numbers, abbreviations, and chemical names that are difficult to interpret without a scientific background. Be Well Informed addresses these challenges by simplifying complex data, highlighting health risks, and offering next steps on treatment options, retesting schedules, and when to seek professional help. There are 3 simple steps to how Be Well Informed works. The first step is getting your water tested by a certified laboratory. The Second step is putting the water test results into the Be Well Informed website. Last is getting your report from the Be Well Informed website that tells you whether each contaminant is within safe limits, possible sources of contamination, and recommended actions to improve water safety. The launch of Be Well Informed reflects a growing recognition that access to information is as important as access to clean water. By empowering well owners with knowledge, the DNR is helping prevent waterborne illnesses, protect vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women, and encourage proactive maintenance of private wells. It also has broader environmental benefits: when contamination sources are identified early, communications can address them before they spread, protecting not just individual households but entire watersheds. While the tool is a major step forward, it’s not a substitute for regular testing or professional consultation. The DNR continues to recommend that private well owners test their water at least once a year for bacteria and nitrates, and more often if there are known contamination risks in the area. Be Well Informed is ultimately about more than just numbers, it’s about giving people the confidence to make decisions that protect their families and their environment.
Conservation Corner is a weekly article produced by the Forest County Land Conservation and Land Information Department. For more information contact Lucas O’Brien, Forest County Land Conservation Technician at 715-478-1387 or by e-mail at