Wisconsin is a state shaped both literally and figuratively by water. “Wisconsin”, means “river running through a red place”, which refers to the red sandstone surrounding the Wisconsin River formed more than 14,000 years ago when the glaciers melted and flooded the Baraboo Hills region of Wisconsin. The sheer force of the flood carved out a 430-mile-long-chasm that today we know as the Wisconsin River. Many lakes, wetlands and the irregular landscape, which characterize so many parts of northern and eastern Wisconsin, are also a direct result of the last glacier.

With more than 15,000 lakes, 84,000 river miles and millions of wetland acres, you would be hard-pressed today to look around and find a place unaffected by Wisconsin’s waters. Think about the ways that you use water in your daily life. Since you live in the United States, you likely use 80-100 gallons of water per day for activities like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, washing your dishes or watering your garden. Wisconsinites withdraw around two trillion gallons of water from groundwater and surface sources each year. Much of this water is used for power generation (74%), but significant portions of it are also used for municipal public water (9%), paper manufacturing (5%), agricultural irrigation (5%) and even cranberry production (4%).

Now, what happens when this precious resource, so fundamental to daily life and the vitality of our state, becomes unsafe?

#WaterWednesday was created to focus on the importance of water. Each Wednesday the hashtag will highlight a different issue related to Wisconsin water and the need to keep it clean and accessible. Share our posts with the hashtag to continue the conversation, or share your own information with the tag to draw attention to an issue you favor. Pressure needs to be placed on our political leaders to protect this resource that we depend on so heavily.

Some facts about the water in Wisconsin:

An estimated 1.7 million people in Wisconsin drink from unregulated private wells. Private well owners are not required to test their water and only around 16% do it annually although an estimated 47% of private wells are contaminated by one or more contaminants at levels above health standards. Contaminants found in private wells include bacteria, nitrate, phosphorous, arsenic, radium, molybdenum, lead and atrazine. 

Sources of ground water and surface water pollution:

- Materials on the land’s surface can move over the soil to reach surface water sources like rivers, lakes, streams, reservoirs and wetlands.  Polluted runoff can also trickle down through the soil to reach groundwater sources.

-Polluted runoff can come from both agricultural and urban sources and negatively impacts an estimated 90% of Wisconsin lakes.

-Storage tanks – there are an estimated 10 million storage tanks buried in the U.S. and over time they can corrode, crack and develop leaks. Many storage tanks contain gasoline, oil and other chemicals.

-Septic Systems - An improperly designed, located, constructed or maintained septic system can leak bacteria, viruses, household chemicals and other contaminants into the groundwater which can cause numerous health problems.

-Hazardous Waste – Thought to be ~20,000 uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites in the U.S. today leaking contaminants.

-Landfills – Supposed to have a protective bottom layer to prevent contaminants from reaching ground water, but if there is no layer, or if it is cracked, it can lead to contamination.

-Chemicals and Road Salts

-Atmospheric Contaminants

-CAFOs (Concentrated Area Feeding Operations), or factory farms, are responsible for many of the contaminants found in our water.  Animal manure, excess fertilizer applied to crops and fields and soil erosion make agriculture one of the largest sources of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the country.

Coliform bacteria enters water supplies from the direct disposal of waste into streams or lakes, or from runoff from wooded areas, pastures, feedlots, septic tanks and sewage plants into streams or groundwater.

Contaminants:

Bacteria:  According to a 2013 study by researchers with the state Department of Health Services, an estimated 18% of 3,868 private wells tested in WI contained coliform bacteria, which is an indicator of disease-causing bacteria, viruses or parasites. Coliforms are a grouping of bacteria that includes many strains, such as E. coli, and can cause intestinal illnesses.

-Nitrate: Nitrate exceeds safe levels in the private wells of an estimated 94,000 Wisconsin households.

One in five wells in heavily agricultural areas is now too polluted with nitrate for safe drinking, according to data from the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

High levels of nitrate

– pose an acute risk to infants and women who are pregnant and a chronic risk of serious disease in adults, according to the 2015 Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Report.

-Nitrate can convert to compounds that are “some of the strongest known carcinogens,” according to the state groundwater council.

-Risks to human safety from the threat of harmful algae blooms and unstable fish communities due to harmful algae blooms and low levels of dissolved oxygen.

-Declines in property values due to loss of recreational opportunities and aesthetics.

-Disruptions in food web and energy flow that cause negative impacts on species and their habitats.

-Degraded habitats especially in nearshore, wetlands and tributaries due to increases in algae growth.

-Beach fouling and loss of tourism revenue;

- Added costs to municipalities, industry and the public to protect near drinking water intakes; levels of dissolved oxygen; opportunities and aesthetics; impacts on species and their habitat; due to increases in algae growth; drinking water sources, and restore recreational areas

Want to protect Wisconsin's water? Click here to take action!

#WaterWednesday is a project led by two John Muir Chapter interns - Amber Levenhagen, the Communications Intern, and Kendl Kobbervig, the Water Intern. Check Sierra Club Wisconsin's Twitter and Facebook pages every Wednesday for more information about the state of water in Wisconsin.