Private Water Supply | Clinton County Health Department

Private Water Supply Overview

The private water supply program assures the provision of safe potable supplies of water for drinking, culinary and sanitary purposes, protection from contracting waterborne diseases and prevention of disease transmission. The focus of the program includes private water wells, closed loop wells, non-community and semi-private water supplies.

The Clinton County Health Department reviews well application plans and issues permits to construct, modify or seal private water wells and closed loop well systems. Well permits are valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. Water Well Contractors must be licensed and Closed Loop Well Contractors must be registered with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). The Health Department conducts inspections during the drilling and sealing of wells to ensure state code requirements are being met. A major consideration in constructing these wells is to prevent contamination from the ground surface, shallow ground water, sewage disposal systems and other hazardous sources from entering the well. New water wells are sampled and tested prior to putting the well into operation.

Abandoned wells pose a health and safety hazard if they are improperly sealed or in a state of disrepair (e.g., broken well lid, crumbling brick or cracked concrete walls) serving as a route for contaminating groundwater and should be sealed. Permits to seal an abandoned well can be obtained from the Health Department at no charge. An inspection is conducted during the sealing of all abandoned wells.

Starting June 3, 2025, local health departments can NO LONGER provide IDPH private water test kits to the public.

Private Water Testing for Submission to IDPH Laboratories (IDPH sample kits provided)
1. Initial Testing following installation of new wells,
2. Testing in response to infant illness involving private water sources,
3. Testing in response to outbreaks involving private water sources,
4. Special sampling events only upon approval from State Environmental Health.
Private Water Testing for Submission to Commercial Laboratories (sampling kits provided by the commercial lab)
1. Repeat/annual well water testing,
2. Contaminated groundwater not directly associated with human illness,
3. Private water testing conducted as part of real estate transactions,
4. Request for private water testing which do not fall within the criteria of approved testing.