Well Water Quality

The Pottawattamie County Board of Health is once again offering a program whereby State funding can be utilized for the purpose of testing water from water wells, properly plugging abandoned wells and cisterns that impact groundwater quality, and renovating existing wells to prevent contamination of the aquifer. Water testing is required for all newly drilled potable water wells. It is also recommended to have your water tested annually, after all well maintenance activities, or after any changes in water quality.

Free testing is offered for:

Bacteria
Nitrates
Arsenic

Contact the Planning Department at (712) 328-5792 to schedule your water test.

Well Plugging

Please consider properly plugging all unused or unneeded water wells! Not only a hazard to personal safety, but old supply wells are also a site of point source pollution to the groundwater. Abandoned wells are not up to the current code and are typically in poor condition, left standing open. These wells pose a risk to our drinking water because they can be a direct pathway for chemicals and contaminated water to enter the deeper aquifers that are normally protected. Help protect groundwater and our water quality by plugging unneeded wells!

Iowa DNR Information