DNR to award $10 million in ARPA funds for private well compensation grants
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will be awarding $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds as grants to replace, reconstruct, treat or abandon contaminated wells.
There are many private wells in Wisconsin that provide water for people who are the most vulnerable to well contamination, such as children and senior citizens, that need to be put into good condition, said DNR Secretary Preston Cole during a media briefing held by Zoom on November 1.
The number one contaminant in those wells is nitrate, which particularly affects senior citizens and young families with babies, he said.
The first of the grants were awarded last week for well replacement, reconstruction, treatment or abandonment, Cole said.
Wisconsin does have a program for compensating residents who must fix or abandon their wells.
Cole said he encourages every well owner to apply for the grant funds, especially if they do not qualify under the state’s existing well compensation program.
There are people who cannot drink their water because of nitrate contamination, said state Representative Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point), who represents Assembly District 71.
Estimates are that it would cost up to $440 million to replace the wells in Wisconsin that are contaminated with nitrate, she said.
The statutory requirements for the state’s well compensation program make it difficult for residents to qualify, Representative Shankland said.
State law
Under Wisconsin statute 281.75, a landowner, or someone leasing the land, that has a contaminated water supply, or the spouse, dependent, heir, assign or legal representative of the landowner or the lessee, can apply for the well compensation program.
To be eligible for the well compensation program when the contaminant is nitrate, state law requires that the well is a livestock water supply or is a residential water supply used as source of water for livestock.
In addition, the well must be used for three months each year, and while the well is in use, it must provide an estimated average of more than 100 gallons per day for consumption by livestock.
If the well meets the standard as a source of water for livestock and is contaminated with nitrate, the nitrate level must be more than 40 parts per million before an applicant can receive compensation through the state’s program.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, levels of nitrate-nitrogen over 10 milligrams per liter (1 mg/L equals 1 ppm) can be harmful and can cause birth defects, “blue baby syndrome,” thyroid disease and may increase the risk for certain kinds of cancer.
The Wisconsin DHS website states that at least 10 percent of private wells in Wisconsin are contaminated with high levels of nitrate.
According to state law, in order to be eligible to receive money from the well compensation program, annual family income cannot exceed $65,000.
By state law, if an applicant meets all of the requirements for the state’s well compensation program, the award cannot pay more than 75 percent of eligible costs, and the award cannot exceed $16,000.
If the annual family income of the claimant exceeds $45,000, the amount of the award is the amount determined less 30 percent of the amount by which the claimant’s income exceeds $45,000.
ARPA requirements
Under the ARPA grant program to compensate for wells contaminated with nitrate, the livestock requirement has been removed, Representative Shankland said.
In addition, state law sets the limit at more than 40 ppm for nitrate (or 40 mg/L) for the well compensation program, but under the ARPA grant program, wells that contain more than 10 ppm of nitrate will qualify for compensation, she said.
The ARPA grant program also sets the limit for arsenic at more than 10 parts per billion, while under state law, the well must contain more than 50 parts per billion of arsenic to qualify, Representative Shankland said.
According to state law, families with an annual income of more than $65,000 do not qualify for the well compensation program, but under the ARPA grant program, the income level has been increased to $100,000, she said.
The state Legislature has not changed the income limit of $65,000 for the well compensation program since 1995, Representative Shankland noted.
The ARPA grant well compensation program also has expanded eligibility to include churches, daycares and small businesses that have a private water supply, she said, adding that the ARPA grants will cover reverse osmosis systems as well as the repair and reconstruction of wells.
Representative Shankland said she has been encouraging the state Legislature to expand and implement changes to the well compensation program included in state statute to create a long-term solution.
For more information about the DNR’s ARPA grant program for well compensation, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/WellAbandonment.html.
