2026 May Stewardship Advocate

2026 May Stewardship Advocate

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Private Well Testing

230,000 Iowans, or about 7% of the state's population, rely on private wells, including most Iowa farmers. These private wells are not regulated like a public water utility, so it is incumbent on the well owner to maintain the wells and ensure the quality of the water in the well. However, of the nearly 100,000 active private wells, only 6,300 were tested for water quality.

Why is the percentage so low? The answer is complex and multi-faceted. Among the reasons are:

1. Unlike public utilities, private wells in Iowa are largely unregulated. The state mandates testing only when a new well is dug or renovated; routine follow-up tests are entirely at the owner's discretion. Also, Iowa does not require well inspections or testing during real estate transactions.
2. Since well aquifers lie deep underground and their water appears clean, many homeowners assume their water is safe and clean.
3. Perceived costs and complexity lead to fewer wells being tested. Well owners may be reluctant to test their wells for fear of an expensive remedy.
4. Well owners may not know where to turn for assistance in testing and analyzing water samples from their well. Some that do find the testing, analysis and test results complex and difficult to interpret.

Where to Turn

Although the rate of private well testing is low in Iowa, there are several resources available. In Iowa, there is a state-funded "Grants to Counties" program that provides free or low-cost annual water testing of private wells. To access the program, contact your county department of health or environmental health to secure an appointment with the county sanitarian.

Figure 1. Grants to Counties program steps.

The Private Well Grants (PWG) Program was established in 1987 when the Iowa Legislature passed the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act to safeguard groundwater. The PWG are available to local county health departments to provide financial assistance to their residents for private water well services. These grants provide reimbursement for the following activities:

1. Water tests to ensure that private well water is safe to drink.
2. Well closure to ensure that abandoned wells do not create groundwater to become contaminated.
3. Well reconstruction or repair to bring the well up to current standards.

For more information about private well testing, contact your local health department or consult resources from the Iowa DNR here: Iowa DNR - Private Well Testing or Iowa State University Extension at ISU - Private Well Stewardship Program. To see who to contact in your county, click this link: ISU - County Water Testing Contacts.

Latest Information

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Tim Creveling farms in Ringgold County Iowa near the town of Ellston. He is part of a multigenerational farm that includes his cousin, father and uncle. Tim has been farming since 1999 after graduating from high school.

In addition to their corn-soybean rotation, the family has a 200-head cow-calf herd that feeds hay harvested from their hay ground. Tim says of his corn production operation, "We use no till as much as we can, planting around 32,000 seeds per acre and typical maturities are 110 to 117 day. Our fertility program relies on grid sampling, and we use variable rate equipment to apply our phosphorus, potassium and lime. That way, we are only applying what we need based on soil tests. Doing so, reduces our overall fertilizer rates and costs and balances our application rates." Similarly, Tim spreads out his nitrogen applications between fall and spring and applies with an applicator to minimize soil disturbance.

When asked what changes he is making in the 2026 growing season, Tim says, "We don't plan to make any big changes for this year, but it seems every year there is some new product we end up doing a trial on."

Soil conservation is a key part of Tim's farming philosophy. This is illustrated by his commitment to no-till and minimum till and the terraces that have been constructed on his farm. He says, "Soil is the lifeblood of our farm and keeping it healthy and on the farm is not only good today but ensures it will be productive in the future."

Tim is active with the Iowa Corn Growers Association at the district and state level, serving as the District 8 chair and a member of the Iowa Corn Animal Ag and Environment committee. When asked about his participation, Tim says, "As a corn grower and livestock producer, I want to be at the table to advocate on behalf of both systems. Participating on the committee is a perfect venue for me to do so. Plus, I enjoy talking to corn farmers across the state that have operations that differ from mine."

There are several conservation events and learning opportunities coming up. We hope you will join us at an event near you!

Upcoming Events:

June 4: Long-term cover crop field day near Waverly; Register for this hands-on field day at June Field Day With Real Data and Trial Results in Waverly

June 11: Long-term cover crop field day near Dayton; Register for this hands-on field day at June Field Day With Real Data and Trial Results in Dayton

June 30: Field day near Lytton; Conserve and Economize: Drainage Water Recycling and Double-Cropping With M&M Farms

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