State officials hold public hearing to address county water concerns
By Joe Bachman
Multimedia Editor
STEVENS POINT — State officials spoke with residents about their concerns on water quality issues that continue to plague many areas in Wisconsin.
A public hearing was held on Wednesday, July 24, at the UW-Stevens Point Dreyfus University Center. In the meeting, public officials spoke to and took questions from dozens in attendance. Like many, their concerns over contaminated well-water in the area need to be voiced.
According to a Portage County water study, high levels of nitrates were found in a quarter of private area wells. This is nearly doubled in the Nelsonville area, where the study found 47 percent of the wells to be undrinkable. Throughout Southwestern Wisconsin, nearly half of all wells were found to be contaminated, and one in five private wells in the entire state are considered unsafe to drink from due to nitrate contamination.
Both Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) and Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) joined a 16-member task force to hear from communities around Wisconsin on their water quality concerns.
