Homes on private wells in the Town of Middleton and Springfield sit mostly on glaciated ground just east of the Driftless. Depths vary, so check your well construction report. Test for bacteria and nitrate every year at a certified lab, and use a DNR-licensed pump installer for any pump work.
Updated October 2026
Typical wells here
- Town-level medians for Middleton and Springfield are not in the depth table yet. The Dane County median is 179 ft.
- Just west, on the Driftless side, Town of Cross Plains wells run a median 220 ft and Berry wells 262 ft.
- Wells drilled since 2010 across 22 area townships in DNR data have a median depth of 220 ft.
Find your own well in the DNR Well Records Search. For wells from 1988 or later, search by county and street name.
Water quality notes
- PHMDC reported that about 1 in 5 Dane County private wells tested from 1988 to 2021 were unsafe for nitrate. Those were self-selected tests, not a random sample.
- For PFAS testing, check with PHMDC for current programs. DNR is still developing new PFAS well aid under 2025 state laws.
- January and February bring frozen lines. Heavy holiday use can expose a tired pump or tank.
Testing near Middleton
- The Madison and Dane County public health lab stopped testing on October 1, 2025. PHMDC still helps you read results: 608-243-0357.
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH), Madison: bacteria $35, nitrate $35, arsenic $38. Kits ship free; you pay return shipping. 608-224-6202.
- UW-Stevens Point lab: homeowner package $78 (bacteria, nitrate and basic chemistry). 715-346-3209.
- WellTAP: free tests for eligible homes with a pregnant person, a child 12 or under, or someone immunocompromised. In Dane County, call 608-242-6515.
Permits and rules
- New well: a Dane County well location permit from PHMDC ($226, 608-242-6515) plus the DNR well construction notification ($50.50).
- A well unused for more than 90 days must be filled and sealed by a licensed driller or pump installer. The DNR Well Abandonment Grant can pay 75% for eligible households, with approval before work starts.
When you need a licensed professional
Wisconsin rules require a DNR-licensed pump installer for pump and pressure-tank work on a drinking-water well; check with DNR if you’re unsure. You can check a contractor’s license in the DNR directories.
- No water or very low pressure
- A positive bacteria test
- Replacing a pump, pressure tank or switch
- Sealing an unused well
Related
- Wells around Cross Plains
- Wells around Verona
- Typical well depths by town
- Common well problems
- Where to test your well water
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