Evers announces expansion of well protection program

Gov. Tony Evers and other state officials traveled to Oconto on Aug. 16 to announce the expansion of the program that provides grants for the replacement, reconstruction, treatment or abandonment of contaminated private wells.

“Improving water quality is as much of an environmental issue as an economic issue,” Evers said during the announcement at Copper Culture State Park in Oconto. “Clean water is no longer a luxury, it’s a basic human right, and this program will help families all across our state stay healthy and safe.”

The newly announced plan uses $10 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to create a supplemental well compensation program for families who would otherwise not be eligible under the current plan. Evers estimated the funds could help improve or replace about 1,036 wells across the state.

“Every Wisconsinite should be able to trust the water coming out of their tap, but we’ve all seen the stories of families who turn on their tap only to see water running brown and they’ve had to rely on water coolers and plastic water bottles for clean drinking water,” the governor said. “Relying on the Culligan man for clean drinking water isn’t a solution.”

The Legislature provided some additional funding for well compensation grants in the last budget, but it did not go far enough, Evers said.

“For years the well compensation grant program has needed some updates, like lowering the nitrate and arsenic threshold to be in line with public health standards, increasing the family income limit which has not been raised since 1995, and eliminating the requirement that wells are only eligible for land that is used to water livestock,” he said. “These requirements are outdated, but more than that they’re preventing folks from accessing critically needed funds to clean up their water supply and keep their families healthy and safe.”

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole said the existing requirements are so stringent almost no one is eligible.

“It’s my belief you have to stand on one foot, do a backflip and a circle to qualify under the old standards,” Cole said. “Our responsibility is to make it easy for clean water, for folks to replace those wells, and that’s what this is going to be able to do.”

The new plan provides grants of up to $16,000 with no cost-share requirement on the land owner, Cole said. The grants will be available starting the first week in October. Families with an income of up to $100,000 are eligible, as opposed to $65,000 under the existing program.

In 2021 nitrates were the most common contaminant in private wells across the state, he said.

“Too much nitrogen winds up in places that it shouldn’t be, in well water systems,” Cole said. “What we’re finding out is that nitrates need to be put on (land) at a certain time for corn. More isn’t always a good idea.”

Even 200 public well systems exceed federal standards for nitrate contamination, he added. “This program is a much-needed shot in the arm for clean water.”

State Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, said her constituents in Portage County have been asking for changes to the well protection program for a decade.

“I’ve tracked multiple times, and I’m unaware of anyone in my county that actually qualifies for a grant under the existing stringent and outdated requirements,” Shankland said. “As a result we have homeowners not only in my community but yours across the state who have to buy bottled water for drinking because they just can’t afford to spend the thousands of dollars that it would take to treat or replace their contaminated wells.”

Shankland said she has been unable to get support for bills or budget measures that would expand the program and she is glad the executive branch took action.

“People can’t afford to wait for other politicians to get off the sidelines and decide that it’s finally time to pass some legislation, and they shouldn’t have to wait for clean drinking water,” she said.