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Committee weighs restarting well testing after maps show nitrates, bacteria near Lower Wisconsin River
Summary
County staff reviewed groundwater testing maps showing nitrate and bacteria hotspots near the Lower Wisconsin River and proposed rejoining a tri‑county Driftless Area water study at a 50% cost share to resume testing and mapping; budget constraints were cited.
Richland County staff presented groundwater testing data and maps showing elevated nitrates and bacteria in areas adjacent to the Lower Wisconsin River, prompting committee discussion about resuming county participation in a tri‑county Driftless Area water‑study program.
Staff said previous participation lapsed for budgetary reasons and proposed funding 50% of a program to test up to 100 wells and contribute mapping resources. Committee members noted the public‑health value of continued testing and suggested the county include a 50% cost share in the upcoming budget discussion. The committee asked staff to pursue options for rejoining the study and to clarify which wells and trends the study would capture.
Committee members also discussed how residents can have private wells tested (the county maintains information and referrals to local labs and human services programs) and noted the difference between nitrate/bacteria testing and more expensive chemical assays that were not part of the proposed program. The county will consider budgetary options and whether to fund partial participation in the tri‑county study in the next budget cycle.
