Area counties propose Homeowner Water Testing Program

By Ted Pennekamp

Crawford, Richland and Vernon counties have proposed to conduct a Homeowner Water Testing Program to be done in 2020.

The three counties would collaborate with the health departments, and land and water conservation departments in each county, as well as with local non-profit organizations such as the Crawford Stewardship Project, and farmer and landowner led groups. Testing and analysis would be performed by the UW–Stevens Point Water and Environmental Analysis Laboratory.

A Wisconsin Environmental Health Tracking Grant is being applied for, which would be for $10,000 if the study were fully funded.

“We are planning two rounds of testing, likely in spring and fall of 2020, possibly fall 2020 and spring 2021 if there are setbacks,” said Crawford Stewardship Project Program Coordinator Forest Jahnke.

Jahnke said there will be public informational events before and after the testing is done. “The full analysis could take a bit longer, but I suspect we should have a wrap on everything by 2021,” he said.

The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey at UW-Madison as well as the Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture may also become involved in the Homeowner Water Testing Program, but more will become known after the counties and other organizations meet with them in August.