The state has released the first grant awards to provide financial assistance for well owners to replace, reconstruct, treat or abandon contaminated private wells.
Five grants have been awarded to improve drinking water quality in Marathon, Portage and Winnebago counties, including two well compensation grants totaling $30,791 and three well abandonment grants totaling $4,144.
“Clean water shouldn’t be a luxury, it’s a necessity — but too often the cost of cleaning up contaminated wells can be expensive, burdensome, and unattainable for so many folks across our state,” says Gov. Tony Evers. “Every Wisconsinite should have access to clean, safe drinking water, and we’re working to invest in making sure Wisconsinites across our state, including well owners in Marathon, Portage, and Winnebago counties, have support to help keep their kids, loved ones, and communities healthy and safe.”
These new programs, made possible by federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, are a $10 million commitment to improve drinking water quality for private well owners across the state. It’s estimated the ARPA Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs could help well owners address contamination in more than 1,030 wells across the state.
DNR began accepting applications for the programs on Oct. 3 and in the first three weeks of the application period, has received nearly two dozen applications from every region in the state. DNR will continue to accept and review applications until the funding is exhausted.
See more info on the ARPA Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/Grants.html
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