Contents

Introduction

Do you have questions about drinking water or groundwater in Portage County, such as

Citizen committees in Portage County have identified three major groundwater issues in our county:

Protecting Portage County's groundwater requires all of its citizens to be informed. The following brochures and web sites will help you better understand Portage County's groundwater resources and how you can help protect them.

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General Information

Nitrate in Groundwater-A Continuing Issue for Wisconsin Citizens is a paper that provides information on the extent of nitrate pollution, the costs resulting from nitrate pollution and nitrate pollution sources and trends. DNR, 13 pp. 1999.

Atrazine and Drinking Water Wells: Questions and Answers is a fact sheet describing atrazine, health risks, levels found in Wisconsin well water, sources, prevention, and testing. UW-Extension, 2 pp. 1998.

*Portage County Water Resources is a brochure intended to help direct your water questions to the best agency. The topic categories range from laws and ordinances to agricultural practices and municipal water questions. Planning and Zoning, 1pp. 1996.

The Well Street Journal: Special Issue: Groundwater Basics is a newsletter with seven tips for groundwater protection, a list of groundwater terms, and whom to contact for more information. Golden Sands RC&D, 5 pp.

Groundwater-Protecting Wisconsin's Buried Treasure (WDNR PUBL-DG-055-99) is a magazine supplement which highlights agency and individual actions to protect groundwater. This revised edition introduces new protection programs and reminds Wisconsin citizens that we are responsible for guarding our valuable groundwater resource. DNR, 32pp. 1999.

*Publication contains information specific to Portage County                                           Back to Top

Homeowner Best Management Practices

Better Homes and Groundwater (WDNR PUBL-WR-386-95) is a booklet that guides homeowners to groundwater protection through sound practices in their lawns and gardens, households, workshop and auto, plumbing, and garbage. DNR, 15pp. 1995.

Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Soil Testing (A2166) is a bulletin which explains how to test soils for fertility and determines whether nutrients are needed, thus avoiding unnecessary or excessive applications of fertilizers. UW- Extension, 2 pp. 1997.

Yard Care and the Environment series (GWQ 002, 007, 009, 012, 013, 022) contains separate bulletins on yard care tips that help protect groundwater. UW-Extension, 4-12 pp. 1999.

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Health Effects

Nitrate in Drinking Water (WDNR PUBL-DG-001) is a brochure that defines nitrate, its levels in drinking water, health effects, testing, recommendations. DNR, 2 pp. 1997.

Nitrate Nitrogen is a reference explaining nitrate levels and appropriate actions. You can track your nitrate test results and the sheet provides a list of contacts for advice. Groundwater Center, 1pp. 1997.

Atrazine is a fact sheet by the Wisconsin Division of Health intended for people who may be exposed to chemicals in the environment. It describes atrazine, how people are exposed, standards, health effects, and medical tests. Groundwater Center, 2 pp. 1994.

Drinking Water Contamination: Understanding the Risks (G3339) is a bulletin which examines the risks posed by small concentrations of toxic chemicals sometimes found in drinking water. Pollutants include nitrate, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and gasoline. UW-Extension, 4 pp. 1992.

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Wells and Water Quality

Do Deeper Wells Mean Better Water? (G3652) is a bulletin explaining groundwater movement and the important differences in water quality that can occur between shallow and deep wells. UW-Extension, 8pp. 1996.

*Drinking Water Quality in Portage County is a brochure discussing the results of 234 private wells in Portage County tested in 1997 for nitrate, coliform bacteria, corrosivity, hardness, chloride, pH, alkalinity and conductivity. Groundwater Center, 2 pp. 1998.

You and Your Well (WDNR PUBL-DG-009) is a brochure explaining regulations affecting private wells, and some general dos and don'ts regarding construction, installation, and maintenance. DNR, 4 pp. 1999.

Home Water Safety: Evaluating the Condition of Your Public Community Water Supply (G3558-3) is a bulletin that tells you how to make sure that water from a public supply source is safe. UW-Extension, 8pp. 1999.

*Publication contains information specific to Portage County                                           Back to Top

Technical Publications

*Groundwater Challenges and Management Tools for the Stevens Point-Whiting-Plover Recharge Area is a report which summarizes contaminant sources and management options based on groundwater flow and contaminant models in the Stevens Point-Whiting-Plover Wellhead Protection Area. Groundwater Center, 15pp. 1997.

*Impacts of Irrigated Vegetable Agriculture on a Humid North-Central U.S. Sand Plain Aquifer is the summary of a study conducted to determine the impacts of irrigated vegetable agriculture on groundwater quality in a portion of the Wisconsin central sand plain. Article appeared in Groundwater, vol. 37, No. 4, July-August 1999. Groundwater Center, 9pp. 1999.

*Nitrate and Pesticides in Domestic Water Supply Wells, for a Part of the Town of Stockton, Portage County is a report describing a study conducted by the Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center on a 6-square mile area in Central Wisconsin to assess nitrates and pesticides in rural wells. A five page summary of the report is also available. Groundwater Center, 140pp. 1998.

*Subdivision Impacts on Groundwater Quality is a report of the effects of lawn and household chemicals and septic systems on groundwater quality in two subdivisions in the Stevens Point-Central Sands area of Wisconsin. Groundwater Center, 10 pp. 1993.

*Portage County Groundwater Conditions is a summary of basic geology and soils and current data on groundwater problems in the county. Groundwater Center, 32 pp. 2000.

*Publication contains information specific to Portage County                                           Back to Top

Web Sites

The Portage County Groundwater Citizens Advisory Committee web site (http://www.uwsp.edu/water/portage) links you to Portage County groundwater data and allows you to ask questions of groundwater experts and participate in groundwater discussions online.

The Central WI Groundwater Center web site (http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr/gndwater) gives you access to technical reports and lists of certified water testing laboratories.

The Department of Natural Resources web site (http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/dwg) links you to many DNR water quality publications and their statewide data base for public water supplies and private well construction.

The Golden Sands RC&D web site (http://www.goldensandsrcd.org) highlights projects that involve farmers and local people working together to address groundwater problems. 

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Obtain Copies or Further Information

To obtain copies of the listed publications, or for further information, contact the agency listed in bold print for each publication.

A fee may be charged for some publications.

Have questions about groundwater or comments on Portage County's groundwater management plan? E-mail us at groundwater@co.portage.wi.us 

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