Write your legislators: Support Right to Know Legislation

Roughly one-third of Wisconsinites rely on groundwater from private wells for their drinking water, but thousands of families remain unaware of the potential contamination in their water. Unlike Wisconsinites on municipal water systems who get annual notifications about their water quality, private well owners are rarely notified when local ground or surface water is contaminated.

There are dangerous health concerns related to water contamination from pollutants like nitrate, PFAS, lead, and arsenic. From developmental delays in children to cancer and chronic illness, these toxic contaminants cause lifelong harm.

That’s why we are working with Wisconsin Conservation Voters to address this urgent issue by supporting legislation that would protect private well owners’ right to know about contamination in their drinking water.

If the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identifies groundwater contamination, the bill would require the department to notify county health departments, county land and water conservation departments, and Tribal health departments. The legislation was introduced as AB 635 & SB 628.

Please join us in taking action to contact your state legislators and ask them to support this legislation!

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Please Support AB 635 & SB 628

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Please support the Water Pollution Notification Act, AB 635 & SB 628, which would protect private well owners’ right to know about contamination potentially impacting their water. The bill would require the DNR to notify county health departments, county land and water conservation departments, and Tribal health departments if they have identified nearby contamination. This allows them to have the tools they need to notify impacted people. An estimated 1 in 3 Wisconsin families get their drinking water from a private well, and many are facing bacteria, PFAS, nitrate, lead, and arsenic contamination. We know that Wisconsinites spend up to $2.04 billion on the healthcare expenses associated with PFAS, lead, and nitrate contamination alone. Those include costs associated with cancer treatments, miscarriages, heart surgeries, and developmental challenges. Our state simply isn’t doing enough to protect Wisconsinites impacted by these contaminants. And unlike Wisconsinites on municipal water systems who get annual notifications about their water quality, private well owners are rarely notified when nearby waters are contaminated. These communities need legislators like you to fight for their health and ensure they are aware of potential contamination in their drinking water. Supporting AB 635 & SB 628 will take us one step closer to ensuring that every Wisconsinite has access to the information they need to protect their families from harmful contamination. Thank you.

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