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Groundwater Council Says More Research Needed To Fix Wisconsin's Groundwater

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Nearly three-quarters of Wisconsin residents rely on groundwater as the primary source for their drinking water.

The Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council is directed to assist state agencies relating to groundwater programs. They recently shared key recommendations for protecting and preserving groundwater resources with the legislature.

DNR groundwater section chief Bruce Rheineck, says three recommendations came out of the report: protecting groundwater from nitrate and other agricultural contaminants; evaluating groundwater for viruses and other pathogens; and addressing emerging challenges such as PFA's, along with livestock and mining industries, and climate change impacts.

Rheineck says more research is needed in each key area..

"..Really highlight the need for everybody to turn on their tap and trust that the water coming out is same to consume. There are things that could be done in each of those areas figuring out how to balance economic needs with protecting people's health and the environment..."

He says research is the key...

"...keep crop yields up and minimize impacts both surface and groundwater and to understand the distribution of (PFA's) in the environment, the sources, where their going and also better understanding of the human health effects..."

Rheineck says only a few of the chemicals have had that kind of research. Gov. Tony Evers declared 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water and State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos formed a task force to hold hearings focused on water quality throughout Wisconsin.

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