DRIFTLESS - Following the successful testing of 351 private wells this March, the Driftless Area Water Study (DAWS) is inviting the public to a series of educational events this June. These sessions will provide a look at regional groundwater health and offer residents professional guidance on protecting their drinking water.

Residents of Crawford, Richland, and Vernon counties are encouraged to attend any of the sessions to review aggregated results, participate in Q&A, and learn about private well maintenance.

Events are free and open to everyone, regardless of whether you participated in the study.

• Vernon County: Tuesday, June 9, at 12 p.m., in the County Board Room (3rd floor of the Annex Building), 400 Courthouse Square, Viroqua. Virtual option: teams.microsoft.com/meet/25201922921161?p=KaDgoNVTMRTYk4lPOH
• Richland County: Thursday, June 25, at 5:30 p.m., at the Richland Center Community Center, 1050 N. Orange Street
• Crawford County: Saturday, June 27, at 4 p.m., at the Gays Mills Community Commerce Center, 16381 Highway 131.

About the study

The DAWS project was launched in 2020 to establish a scientific baseline for groundwater health in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. Because the region’s karst geology makes groundwater highly vulnerable to surface contaminants, this data is critical for both homeowners and local policymakers. The project is an ongoing partnership between three counties (Crawford, Richland, Vernon), the University of Wisconsin Center for Watershed Science & Education, and Crawford Stewardship Project.

Well water samples were analyzed for key indicators of contamination:

• Nitrates: Often linked to fertilizers, manure, and sometimes septic systems; high levels pose risks to infants and pregnant individuals.
• Bacteria: Presence of E. coli or Total Coliform indicating potential contamination or plumbing issues.
• Metals: Including lead, arsenic, copper, iron, uranium, zinc, and many more. Some of these occur naturally and some are contaminants, some are safe while others pose serious health risks.

"While individual results are kept strictly confidential, the aggregated data tells a story about the health of our shared resources," says Dawn Adams, Crawford County Public Health Specialist.

In addition to the public forums, expert staff from the UW-Stevens Point Center for Watershed Science and Education will deliver formal briefings to the Crawford, Richland, and Vernon County Boards to help inform future land-use and health policies.

Local resources

The responsibility for testing the safety of private wells lies with individual landowners. County Health and Conservation Departments offer resources to help. More information can be found at the DAWS webpage: https://www.vernoncountywi.gov/departments/land_and_water_conservation/driftless_area_water_study.php