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Clean Water Initiative partners say expanding the grant program is an important step
Madison, Wis. – Three environmental groups and a dairy organization, working together to find long-term solutions to Wisconsin’s water quality issues, are pleased to announce today that they will provide $10 million to protect private well owners from contaminated drinking water. .
Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday he is committing federal funds to replace or treat contaminated private wells. The new grant program expands eligibility to support more affluent owners than the state’s current Wellpens Compensation Grant program.
The groups — Clean Wisconsin, the Dairy Association, The Nature Conservancy at Wisconsin and WI Land+Water — said, “This investment is a major and fundamental step toward ensuring that all residents of our state have access to clean drinking water.” .
Continued financial support for families with contaminated wells through a Budget design The groups presented it as part of a broader plan to improve water quality in Wisconsin by 2021 while supporting farmers’ conservation efforts. They are partners in the Clean Water Initiative from 2020.
“Wisconsin must make access to clean water a priority for every resident. This is a responsibility of all of us. We are grateful to see Gov. Evers take such a big step toward that goal,” the groups said. We look forward to working with you.”
The funding announced Tuesday comes from one-time funds Wisconsin received through the American Recovery Plan Act of 2021, which directs federal money to states during the pandemic.
Comments from the companies about the new program:
“Everyone has the right to clean drinking water, but tens of thousands of Wisconsin households are dealing with nitrate-contaminated wells. Governor Evers gave those families a way to finally get clean water from their taps again. This program helps small businesses and critical services such as day care centers that have been suffering from high levels of nitrates in their drinking water. We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to continue this program so that all rural Wisconsinites receive the assistance they deserve. Clean Wisconsin has been advocating for changes to the Well Compensation Grant Program that would allow families with nitrate-contaminated wells to receive assistance, as well as additional funding given the scale of this problem in our state. With this investment, the buyer surrendered.
– Scott Leather, director of the Clean Wisconsin Water Program
“Ensuring access to clean drinking water is important to our rural neighbors and our families and farms, so expanding eligibility for this critical support is critical. And as environmentalists and business owners, supporting farmers is part of a larger effort to protect and improve water quality. We are part of the solution.” And we continue to expand our use of new conservation practices through scientific research, collaboration with partners, and a commitment to the well-being of our communities.
– Amy Penterman, president of the Dairy Trade Association
“Clean water is fundamental to the health and prosperity of people and natural systems. We appreciate the Governor’s investment in this grant program, which will provide clean drinking water to more people in Wisconsin, in rural and urban areas where access to clean water is difficult.”
– Elizabeth Koehler, State Director of the Wisconsin Conservancy
We celebrate this important step to ensure that all Wisconsinites have access to clean water. We look forward to continued work to address water quality challenges with common-sense solutions that empower healthy families and communities.
– Matt Krueger, WI Land + Water executive director
The main components of the new program are:
- Eliminate the requirement that a nitrate-contaminated well is used as a water supply for livestock to qualify for assistance
- Lower nitrate-contaminated wells from 40 parts per million (ppm) to 10 ppm to meet the state’s public health standards.
- Lower arsenic levels in arsenic-contaminated wells from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb to comply with federal drinking water requirements.
- Allow any source of bacterial contamination that poses a risk to human health to be eligible for the program, not just faecal bacteria from livestock.
- Raise the family income limit for assistance from $65,000 to $100,000, which has not been raised since 1995.
- If the claimant has a household income of more than $45,000, remove the requirement that the claimant’s income be reduced by 30 percent of the amount over $45,000.
- Expand eligible applicants to non-contaminated community wells (churches, daycare centers, rural restaurants, and other small businesses) and base income eligibility on property or business owner income rather than household income.
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