Drinking Water Program

Drinking Water Program

Ogle County Health Department provides safe well water supplies and groundwater protection.  OCHD staff are available to provide construction permits required for new wells, assist well owners with water quality and well testing questions, and conduct inspections for non-community type wells serving non-resident water users.
Wells: Types, components, location and construction
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Below are links to helpful information.

Forms and Descriptions
Private Water Testing

Ogle County Health Department provides safe well water supplies and groundwater protection.  OCHD staff are available to provide construction permits required for new wells, assist well owners with water quality and well testing questions, and conduct inspections for non-community type wells serving non-resident water users.

IDPH - Lead in Water

     Private Water Testing Times - Fees & Instructions
     Private Water Testing Application
     Water Sample Request Form
     Bacteria in Private Well
     Daycare Lead Testing
     Residential Boil Order Guidelines

     Business Boil Order Procedures
     Chlorination Process with IDPH Video Link and Well Diagram
     Ogle County Fee Schedule
Private Well Installation
The Ogle County Health Department permits new well installations and modifications of wells in accordance with the Ogle County Water Supply, Wells Code and IDPH Administrative Code Part 920 Water Well Construction Code. IDPH licenses the water well installation contractors and the pump installation contractors. Once OCHD approves the permit and the well is installed, OCHD will perform a routine inspection of the well to determine it complies with the codes listed above and tests the water for bacteria and nitrate.

IDPH - Private Water & Closed Loop Wells
     Application to Construct and Modify Water Well
     Installation Report for Water Well Pumps
     Request for Well Variance
     Water Well Construction Report
     Private Well System - Loan Program
     Private Well USDA Rural Development Grant & Loan Program
     IDPH Water Testing Contractor Search
     New House in Need of Septic and Well
Abandoned Well 
OCHD permits the sealing of abandoned wells. The Illinois Water Well Construction Code requires the owner of a water well, boring or monitoring well to properly seal the well within 30 days after it is abandoned and no longer used to supply water. If a well or boring is in such a state of disrepair that it has the potential for transmitting contaminants into the groundwater or otherwise threatens the public health or safety, it also must be sealed. Abandoned wells can serve as a route for contamination of the groundwater and surrounding wells. Depending on the type of abandoned well, they can also cause injury to children, animals or adults who can fall into them leading to injury or death. 

IDPH - Abandoned Wells
     Abandoned Well Application to Seal Water Well
Non-Community Wells
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates public water systems. There are three types of public water systems in Illinois: community; transient, non-community; and non-transient, non-community water systems. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regulates community water systems and the IDPH regulates non-community systems. Both agencies are responsible for enforcing the SDWA standards. This handbook focuses on the two types of non-community systems:
  1. A transient, non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 individuals, but not the same individuals, for more than 60 days per year. For example, a rest area, campground or restaurant having less than 25 employee on its own water supply or well.
  2. A non-transient, non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people more than six months per year. For example, a school or business with its own water supply is considered a non-transient system.
IDPH - Non-Community Public Water Systems
     Seasonal Start-up Form
     Bottle Request
     Certified Water Bacteria Labs
     Certified Water Chemical Analyses Labs
     Non-Community Public Water Systems Handbook
     Non-Community On-Time Water Sampling
     State Non-Community Well Application