Door County residents who rely on private wells will have an opportunity next week to learn more about the quality of their drinking water as officials present findings from the Spring 2026 Door County Private Well Monitoring Program.
The Spring 2026 Door County Well Program Results Forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Crossroads at Big Creek, in Sturgeon Bay. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required. Residents who are unable to attend in person may also participate virtually through a live-streamed presentation, which will be recorded for later viewing.
The forum will highlight results from the county's ongoing groundwater monitoring program, which has tracked private well water quality since 2019 through a partnership between Door County and the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Environmental Research and Innovation Center. The long-term study is designed to educate well owners about groundwater quality while building a database to identify trends across the county.
Testing conducted through the program screens private wells for contaminants including total coliform bacteria, E. coli, nitrate and arsenic, along with water quality characteristics such as pH, hardness, iron and alkalinity. The information helps researchers and public health officials better understand groundwater conditions and identify areas where additional monitoring or education may be needed.
Door County has one of the highest percentages of residents in Wisconsin who rely on private wells for drinking water. Unlike municipal water systems, private wells are the responsibility of the property owner, and state health officials recommend testing well water at least annually for bacteria and nitrates, or whenever changes in taste, odor or appearance occur.
The county's private well monitoring program is offered each spring and fall, allowing participating homeowners to submit water samples at a reduced cost while contributing to ongoing groundwater research. Past presentations and monitoring results are available through the county's groundwater program website.
