This bill expands eligibility for nitrate-contaminated wells under the well
compensation grant program administered by the Department of Natural
Resources.
Under current law, an individual owner or renter of a contaminated private
well, subject to eligibility requirements, may apply for a grant from DNR to cover a
portion of the costs to treat the water, reconstruct the well, construct a new well,
connect to a public water supply, or fill and seal the well.
Under current law, a well that is contaminated only by nitrates is eligible for
a grant only if the well is a water supply for livestock, is used at least three months
in each year to provide more than 100 gallons of water per day for consumption by
livestock, and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million. Under the bill, the
only eligibility requirement for a well that is contaminated only by nitrates is that
the well is used at least three months in each year.
Current law requires DNR to allocate money for payments of claims under the
program according to the order in which claims are received. The bill retains this

requirement but provides that, among claims for contamination only by nitrates,
DNR must allocate payments according to a specified priority ranking.
Also under current law, a residential well that is contaminated only by bacteria
is not eligible for a grant unless the well is in an area that is contaminated by fecal
bacteria and the contamination is caused by livestock. The bill eliminates this
restriction.
The bill also requires DNR to award grants for the remediation method that is
most effective for the health and welfare of the claimant. Finally, the bill requires
DNR to report to the Joint Committee on Finance after the end of each fiscal year on
the number of applicants under the well compensation program and the number and
amounts of grants provided during that fiscal year.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be
printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB58,1 1Section 1 . 281.75 (2) (e) of the statutes is repealed.
SB58,2 2Section 2. 281.75 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB58,2,53 281.75 (2) (g) Submit a report to the joint committee on finance after the end
4of each fiscal year that includes the number of claims submitted and the number and
5amounts of awards provided under this section during that fiscal year.
SB58,3 6Section 3 . 281.75 (5) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 281.75 (5) (f) 1. and
7amended to read:
SB58,2,138 281.75 (5) (f) 1. The Subject to subd. 2., the department shall allocate money
9for the payment of claims according to the order in which completed claims are
10received. The department may conditionally approve a completed claim even if the
11appropriation under s. 20.370 (6) (cr) is insufficient to pay the claim. The department
12shall allocate money for the payment of a claim which is conditionally approved as
13soon as funds become available.
SB58,4 14Section 4 . 281.75 (5) (f) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
SB58,3,7
1281.75 (5) (f) 2. For claims of contamination by nitrates and not by any other
2substance, the department shall allocate money for the payment of those collective
3claims as provided under subd. 1. but shall allocate money for the payment of
4individual claims according to the priority order established under sub. (9). The
5department shall determine the method for allocating money for the payment of
6those claims in the manner that most effectively accomplishes the requirements of
7this paragraph and sub. (9).
SB58,5 8Section 5 . 281.75 (7) (c) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB58,3,129 281.75 (7) (c) 7. If the claim is based on a contaminated water supply that is
10eligible under sub. (11) (ae)
contaminated by bacteria, the cost of properly
11abandoning any improperly abandoned private water supply located on the property
12owned or leased by the claimant.
SB58,6 13Section 6 . 281.75 (7) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB58,3,1614 281.75 (7) (d) The department may issue an award only for the eligible cost
15under this subsection that the department determines is the remediation method
16that is most effective for the health and welfare of the claimant.
SB58,7 17Section 7 . 281.75 (9) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
SB58,8 18Section 8 . 281.75 (9) (am), (bm), (c) and (d) of the statutes are created to read:
SB58,3,2019 281.75 (9) (am) Water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million
20expressed as nitrate-nitrogen.
SB58,3,2221 (bm) Water containing nitrates in excess of 30 parts per million expressed as
22nitrate-nitrogen.
SB58,3,2423 (c) Water containing nitrates in excess of 25 parts per million expressed as
24nitrate-nitrogen.
SB58,4,6
1(d) Water containing nitrates at no fewer than 10 parts per million and not in
2excess of 25 parts per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen. Notwithstanding sub.
3(11) (b) 2., for awards under this paragraph, the department shall emphasize the use
4of reverse osmosis or similar methods prior to well remediation methods if the
5department determines reverse osmosis or similar methods are the most effective
6option for the health and welfare of the claimant.
SB58,9 7Section 9 . 281.75 (9) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 281.75 (9) (intro.) and
8amended to read:
SB58,4,159 281.75 (9) Contamination standard; nitrates. (intro.) Notwithstanding the
10requirement of contamination under sub. (7), if a private water supply meets the
11criteria under par. (a) and the claim is
for claims based upon contamination by
12nitrates and not by any other substance, the department may make an award only
13if the private water supply produces water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts
14per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen.
is used at least 3 months each year and
15shall make awards in the following order of priority:
SB58,10 16Section 10. 281.75 (11) (a) 8. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB58,4,2117 281.75 (11) (a) 8. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply,
18the contaminated private water supply is a residential water supply , that is
19contaminated only by bacteria or nitrates or both, and is not contaminated by any
20other substance, except as provided in par. (ae) and the contamination does not pose
21a risk to human health
.
SB58,11 22Section 11 . 281.75 (11) (ae) of the statutes is repealed.
SB58,12 23Section 12 . 281.75 (11m) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB58,5,424 281.75 (11m) Abandonment of certain private water supplies. If the
25department determines that there is an improperly abandoned private water supply

1located on property owned or leased by a claimant with a contaminated private water
2supply that is eligible under sub. (11) (ae) contaminated by bacteria, the department
3may issue an award only if the claimant properly abandons the improperly
4abandoned private water supply.
SB58,5,55 (End)
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