Nitrate contamination of groundwater should be the focus of a state task force examining Wisconsin’s water issues according to a Rock county Board Supervisor who spoke during a public hearing this week in Janesville.
Wes Davis was among those attending a Wednesday hearing of the state Water Quality Task Force at Blackhawk Technical College.
State health standards say the maximum amount of nitrate allowed in water is 10 milligrams per liter, but more than 94,000 houses with private wells across Wisconsin are above this threshold, according to a presentation given by Rock County Conservationist Thomas Sweeney and county Environmental Health Director Rick Wietersen.
In Rock County, it’s estimated 4,000 of the 15,000 wells may exceed the recommended nitrate limits. The Rock County Public Health Lab tests about 800 wells annually.
