For Immediate Release
In a story recently released by Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR), WPR reports that the latest findings of the Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology study (SWIGG) reveals that septic systems are contributing to private well water quality problems.
Started in 2018, the purpose of the SWIGG study is to determine whether or not drinking water contamination exists in potable wells in Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Counties and if so, what is causing the contamination.
Now in the second phase of the study, randomly selected wells that were found to be contaminated with fecal matter in the first phase, were analyzed for specific viruses and bacteria. Of those wells selected, the majority had microbes consistent with human fecal matter.
Grant County Conservation, Sanitation and Zoning Administrator Lynda Schweikert said, “Seeing the human fecal contamination being the majority of the last two testings, we are looking at our (septic system) maintenance program and making sure that everyone is following the rules.”
Far too often “experts” blame animal agriculture for all of Wisconsin’s rural water quality problems. WDA knows the problem is not that simple and this data shows rural septic systems are equally to blame.
CLICK HERE to read the full WPR story and the latest findings of the SWIGG study.
