Adopt county-approved wellhead protection plans and wellhead protection ordinances for municipal wells that don’t currently have them. See the Chippewa County wellhead protection plan case study as an example. Wellhead protection plans (WHP) identify the area contributing water to a well (recharge area) and potential contaminant sources present in the recharge area. Ordinances can be used to prohibit or restrict land use activities in the recharge area (wellhead protection area) to reduce the risk that contaminants will enter groundwater and eventually the drinking water supplies. Similar plans or ordinances could be made to protect or set aside land for the location of future municipal wells. WDNR’s wellhead protection page provides many specific documents and other resources to help you get started.

Wellhead protection areas often include both land within the city/village and land in the surrounding towns which are under county zoning. The Goals and Policies section of the Executive Summary for each county indicates where such plans and ordinances are needed.

Unused wells can act as direct conduits for contaminants to quickly travel from the land surface to the groundwater. Portage County Groundwater Specialist Ray Schmidt (715-346-1334) has developed a program to seal unused wells which may serve as a useful model. Unused wells may be identified using the Farm-A-Syst program or by driving around to look for abandoned farmsteads and old windmills. The WDNR has well construction report files that can be searched to determine whether unused wells have been properly filled and sealed. Contact the WDNR at 608-266-8697 for more information on sealing and filling unused wells.

Provide educational programs for private well users about the responsibilities and protection measures that come with private wells. See the Iowa County private well testing program case study for an example. Water testing and drinking water programs are available by contacting the county UW-Extension office. In addition, the Wisconsin Groundwater Directory contains a section listing other organizations and resources for groundwater education.

A national groundwater education and protection program specifically designed for communities is the Groundwater Guardian program.

Encourage farmers to adopt nutrient management planning, integrated pest management, organic, and/or rotational grazing practices, which all reduce use of potential groundwater contaminants. The County Land and Water Conservation Department and the County Extension Agricultural Agent can provide information about these practices. Consider offering incentives for groundwater-friendly crops like the City of Waupaca cropping agreements case study describes. Adopt manure management ordinances, if not already adopted.

These practices are particularly valuable near or in recharge areas for public wells, in areas with a high density of private wells, and around karst areas. For a description of karst and recommended actions to prevent groundwater contamination in karst areas see http://basineducation.uwex.edu/rockriver/documents/2005karst.pdf.

Conduct a study, or examine existing geologic and hydrologic reports for the county, to evaluate whether sufficient water is available for future development. (Reports are available for many counties that include water table maps, which show which way groundwater flows, at http://www.uwex.edu/wgnhs/watertable1.htm). Encourage water conservation for businesses and residents on municipal water systems to avoid the increased expenses incurred when additional wells are needed. See the 2006 Wisconsin Conference on Demand Side Management Strategies for Water Utilities report for a discussion of many water conservation options. If discrete recharge areas have been identified for an aquifer, limit the addition of new impervious surfaces in those areas

Wastewater Management: Expand sewer service areas where wastewater treatment plants have sufficient capacity. Encourage or require the location of new developments or specific types of new developments in areas with public sewer service. Where on-site wastewater treatment systems are used, encourage the use of advance treatment systems (even though COMM83 prohibits requiring their use).

Solid Waste Management: Establish Clean Sweep or other hazardous waste collection programs to remove materials that might otherwise be put into private or public sewer systems or landfills. Establish or check for, local unused pharmaceutical take-back programs unused pharmaceutical take-back programs. Site future landfills with the goal of protecting both groundwater and surface water.

Stormwater Management: Develop a plan for stormwater management which promotes infiltration by limiting impervious surfaces and encouraging raingardens. Examine the feasibility of treating stormwater runoff to remove contaminants before discharge to groundwater or surface water.

Land Conservation: Acquire land or development rights for critical groundwater quality or quantity areas. Explore state and federal incentive programs to encourage low groundwater-impact land covers such as forest/woods, prairie, native vegetation (MFL, CRP, CREP, EQIP) or establish local programs. Encourage conservation easements that protect groundwater through maintaining native vegetation or other means.

Development Restrictions or Land Use Regulations: Limit or prevent new residential development that uses private wells in areas with contaminated groundwater. Require test results demonstrating that groundwater is suitable for human consumption before a lot split is approved. Enact conservation subdivision standards that require a portion of the land to be maintained in low groundwater-impact land covers. Design subdivisions to prevent unwanted “recycling” of wastewater into private wells. This “recycling” occurs when on-site wastewater disposal system drainfields or mounds are located upgradient (uphill in the groundwater flow system) from private or group wells. Require lots with private on-site wastewater disposal systems to be of sufficient size to protect water quality in private wells.¹ Limit residential and commercial fertilizer and pesticide use (one option is through limiting lawn area).

Remediation and Redevelopment: Create a contingency plan to use county resources for immediate spill cleanup to avoid/mitigate groundwater contamination. Use DNR resources and programs to encourage long-term groundwater clean up and reuse of contaminated sites such as brownfields. Encourage land uses that have the potential to pollute groundwater to locate in areas with already-contaminated groundwater.

Road Salt Use: Limit road salt use (usually sodium chloride) or use alternative forms of salt to decrease groundwater contamination.

Mining: Enact county non-metallic mining ordinances and review proposed metallic and non-metallic mines (e.g. gravel pits) for potential groundwater quality and quantity problems.

Intergovernmental Cooperation: Coordinate and cooperate across municipal boundaries for groundwater protection.

¹ Shaw, B., P. Arntsen, and W. VanRyswyk. 1993. Subdivision impacts on groundwater quality: final report. UW-Stevens Point.