Ask your legislators to support bipartisan legislation that would help inform local health officials and private well owners about water contamination.
THE PROBLEM
The first step to solving a problem is knowing you have one. Unlike Wisconsinites on municipal water systems who get annual notifications about their water quality, private well owners are rarely notified when local groundwater is contaminated.
Approximately one-third of Wisconsinites rely on groundwater from private wells for their drinking water. They face a host of safe drinking water-related challenges, often without state support for identifying contamination and remediating it.
WHAT THIS BILL WOULD DO
This bill would require the DNR to notify county health departments, county land and water conservation departments, and Tribal health departments if they have identified nearby contamination. This bipartisan legislation would help ensure local officials have the tools they need to help private well owners protect their families.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Ask your legislators to co-sponsor legislation that would protect private well owners’ right to know if their water is contaminated. The deadline for legislators to sign on to the bill is Friday, October 31.
You can use this form created by Wisconsin Conservation Voters, or you can contact legislators on your own and tell them why this would help people in your community.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN YOUR WATER?
NITRATE
One common contaminant from manure and fertilizer is nitrate, which is linked to serious negative health effects including cancer, birth defects, and even infant death.(1) An estimated 42,000 private wells exceed the health standard for nitrate.
PFAS
PFAS are dangerous, man-made chemicals tied to increased cholesterol levels, thyroid disease, certain cancers, and pregnancy complications.(3) In a recent study of Wisconsin’s private wells, 71 percent of samples detected at least one PFAS.
LEAD
No level of lead in drinking water is safe. Elevated blood lead levels in children are associated with hearing loss, lower IQs, developmental delays, behavioral challenges, and emotional impacts like anxiety and depression. Many homes across Wisconsin still rely on pipes and faucets that may contain lead.
