Submitted by Adam Kastonek, St. Croix County Public Information Officer
ST. CROIX COUNTY, WI – St. Croix County is expanding its free nitrate screening clinics and will be offering a winter clinic on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Forest Town Hall, 1895 County Road D, Emerald, Wisconsin.
If you have a private well, it is recommended to test your water annually for nitrates, even if there are no noticeable changes in taste, smell, or appearance. This clinic focuses on screening for nitrate-nitrogen due to growing water quality concerns and potential health risks, particularly for pregnant women, infants under six months.
The nitrate screening results are provided on-site, and staff will be available to discuss and interpret the results. The clinic is open to St. Croix County residents who are interested in testing their private well or public supply drinking water for nitrates. Participants are asked to bring in about eight ounces of water in a closed container, preferably glass, collected within 24 hours of the clinic event.
Participants who have more than one private well may bring in a sample from each well and may also bring in samples from family and friends.
Those who use water treatment systems (reverse osmosis, filters, distillation, etc.) are encouraged to bring in two samples: one before treatment and one after treatment to help assess how it is performing.
St. Croix County’s June nitrate screening clinic in Baldwin drew 126 participants, with 37% of untreated samples testing above the federal health standard of 10 mg/L. These results are higher than the county average, highlighting the importance of regular well water testing, especially for households relying on private wells. The clinics are coordinated by St Croix County Land and Water Conservation and Public Health.
If you have questions about the Drinking Water Screening Clinics, contact St. Croix County Water Resource Specialist, Patty Schrank at 715-381-4933 or patty.schrank@sccwi.gov.
