Several citizens of Jefferson County rely on private water wells and/or cisterns for their water supply. To protect these citizens from contracting or transmitting waterborne disease, JCHD, upon request, collects and submits private and semi-private water samples to the Illinois Department of Public Health for analysis. Procedures and literature for treating and correcting any deficiencies of an existing system are supplied to an owner when an unsatisfactory analysis is received. Once treatment and/or corrections have been made, a resample is collected to assure a safe drinking water supply. JCHD also permits the construction of new wells and the sealing of abandoned wells.