Well Water Nerd

Well water in Geneva, Wisconsin

In Geneva, none of 69 private wells tested between 1990 and 2024 had nitrate above the Wisconsin enforcement standard (10 mg/L), according to the UWSP Well Water Quality Viewer.

69 private wells tested 2002 to 2002 in state summaries; 2 individual samples from 2 wells, 1983. Data refreshed September 9, 2026.

What homeowner tests found

Wisconsin Well Water Quality Viewer samples: private wells tested and reported to the state, 2002 to 2002. Shares are against the level the state applies to each contaminant, named in the last column; several are stricter than EPA.

ContaminantWells testedAbove state levelMedian95th pctHighestState level
Iron1100%1,0661,0661,066300 ug/L
Arsenic195%060.160.110 ug/L
Nitrate690%02.778.2610 mg/L
Copper10%0.0090.0090.0091.3 mg/L
Chloride10%151515250 mg/L
Sodium10%8.78.78.720 mg/L
Total coliform10%
Manganese10%131313300 ug/L
Lead10%11111115 ug/L

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What this means

Among homeowners in Geneva who sent a sample to the state lab, the health-based limits most often exceeded were arsenic (5% of 19 wells). These are ordinary wells tested by their owners, so the shares are the best available picture of a typical well here, with one caveat: people test more often when they suspect a problem.

What to test for in Geneva

  • Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)8 leaking underground storage tank sites on record locally.
  • Arsenic5% of 19 local wells tested were above the Wisconsin enforcement standard.
  • Coliform bacteriaRecommended for every private well, every year.
  • NitrateRecommended for every private well, especially near farms or septic systems.

Contamination sources on record in Geneva

Wisconsin DNR records 8 leaking underground storage tank sites in Geneva, among 31 regulated sites in total. Groundwater does not follow property lines, so a well within a few hundred feet of one of these is worth testing for what that site could release.

8
leaking underground storage tank sitesGasoline and heating oil that leaked from tanks move through groundwater as benzene, MTBE and other volatile organic compounds.
2
lined landfills and transfer facilities
21
other remediation projects

Treatment that fits the local profile

Arsenic
Point-of-use reverse osmosis; Adsorptive media (iron-based) whole-house; Anion exchange

Get your Geneva water tested at home

A licensed local water treatment company tests your tap water in your home, walks you through the numbers, and quotes treatment only if something needs fixing. Free, about 30 minutes, no obligation. Tell us what you need and we match you with a company that serves Geneva.

What are you worried about?

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Common questions

How often should I test a private well in Geneva?

Test for bacteria and nitrate every year. Test once for arsenic, uranium, radon, fluoride, manganese and PFAS, then again every three to five years or after any change in taste, color, or plumbing.

Sources

  • USGS Water Quality Portal: 3 samples in Geneva. Data from the Water Quality Portal, a service of USGS, EPA and USDA; groundwater samples collected by USGS and cooperators. Retrieved September 3, 2026.
  • Wisconsin Well Water Quality Viewer samples: summaries for 9 contaminants in Geneva, up to 69 wells each. Private well samples compiled by the UWSP Center for Watershed Science and Education from the DNR Groundwater Retrieval Network, DATCP surveys, the UWSP Water and Environmental Analysis Lab and county health programs, published in the Wisconsin Well Water Quality Viewer with Wisconsin DHS. Samples are located to the town, village or city they fall in; one result per well and parameter (the latest) so repeat samples do not double count; wells without a state well number are keyed by location. Shares are against Wisconsin NR 140 enforcement standards (arsenic 10 ug/L, nitrate 10 mg/L as N, manganese 300 ug/L, lead 15 ug/L, copper 1.3 mg/L) and the iron and chloride secondary levels. Many samples were submitted by homeowners with a reason to test, so shares can run above a random survey. Retrieved September 9, 2026.
  • Wisconsin DNR regulated sites: 31 regulated sites located in Geneva. Open and closed remediation activities (BRRTS, including leaking underground storage tanks and spills) and landfill and waste sites from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved September 9, 2026.

Non-detects count as samples and are treated as zero when computing medians. Exactly at the limit counts as not above it. A sample belongs to the town containing the well's reported coordinates.