How Safe is Your Drinking Water?
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Dear Editor,
According to the University of Wisconsin Center for Watershed Science and Education, 20-25% of private wells in Green County are contaminated with bacteria and 40-50% with the pesticide atrazine. The average nitrate concentration in Green County wells is 5-10 parts per million, with 10 ppm being the allowable safe limit.
The Wisconsin DNR recommends that well owners have their water tested at least once a year for contamination. This month, the Towns of Albany, Brooklyn, Mount Pleasant and New Glarus will be partnering with the Green County Extension Office to offer a complete drinking water testing program. By the time residents see this notice, they should have received a postcard from the Extension Office, detailing times and dates for bottle pick-up. Town of New Glarus residents will also have received a flier that includes both this information and specifics about the tests that can be ordered.
Please note that to encourage folks to fully protect themselves, The Town of New Glarus will enter well owners who order the full battery of water tests into a drawing to win one of three $100 cash prizes or one of four $25 cash prizes.
For more info, call the Town of New Glarus, (608) 527-2390; the Town of Albany, (608) 862-3322, the Town of Brooklyn, (608) 455-6411, the Town of Mount Pleasant, (608) 938-4657, or Green County Extension, (608) 328-9440.
Harry Pulliam
Town of New Glarus Parks Commission
