Private & Semi Private Water Supplies

The major health consideration in well construction is to prevent well contamination from the surface of the ground or through seepage from sewage disposal systems or from other hazardous sources. The Environmental Health Department staff conducts plan reviews and issue permits for new well construction, inspects and samples existing and new water wells, and monitors the prevalence of abandoned wells with the requirements for their sealing.

The department administers the private water program under the authority of the Illinois Water Well Code and the Illinois Water Well Pump Installation Code. If you or a family member has been ill from a suspected waterborne illness, or have a doctors request, the Wayne County Health Department will sample your water supply and do a well inspection.

For anyone concerned about bacteria in their water, sampling bottles can be obtained from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Animal Disease Laboratory, 9732 Shattuc Road, Centralia Illinois 62801 phone 618-532-6701.

For water quality issues, including high iron, hardness, etc. you should call the Illinois State Water Survey at 217-333-9043, for lab questions call 217-333-9234.