Driftless Area Water Study to Release Regional Well Testing Results: VIROQUA/RICHLAND CENTER/PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WI

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Forest Jahnke
Email: fjahnke@crawfordstewardship.org
Phone: (608) 632-2183
— Following the successful testing of 352 private wells this March, the Driftless Area Water Study (DAWS) is inviting the public to ourf
educational events this June. These sessions will provide a look at regional groundwater health and offer residents professional guidance on protecting their drinking water.

Public Educational Forums
Residents of Crawford, Richland, and Vernon Counties are encouraged to attend any of the
sessions to review aggregated results, participate in Q&A, and learn about private well
maintenance.
Events are free and open to everyone, regardless of whether you participated in the
study.
● Vernon County: Tuesday, June 9 at 12:00 PM
○ Location: County Board Room (3rd floor of the Annex Building), 400 Courthouse
Square, Viroqua

○ Virtual Option:
● Richland County: Thursday, June 25 at 5:30 PM
○ Location: Richland Center Community Center, 1050 N. Orange Street
● Crawford County: Saturday, June 27 at 4:00 PM
○ Location: Gays Mills Community Commerce Center, 16381 State Hwy 131

About the Study
The DAWS project was launched in 2020 to establish a scientific baseline for groundwater
health in Wisconsin’s Driftless area. Because the region’s karst geology makes groundwater
highly vulnerable to surface contaminants, this data is critical for both homeowners and local
policymakers. The project is an ongoing partnership between 3 counties (Crawford, Richland,
Vernon), the University of Wisconsin Center for Watershed Science & Education, and Crawford
Stewardship Project.

Well water samples were analyzed for key indicators of contamination:
● Nitrates: Often linked to fertilizers, manure, and sometimes septic systems; high levels
pose risks to infants and pregnant individuals.
● Bacteria: Presence of E. coli or Total Coliform indicating potential contamination or
plumbing issues.
● Metals: Including lead, arsenic, copper, iron, uranium, zinc, and many more. Some of
these occur naturally and some are contaminants, some are safe while others pose
serious health risks.
“While individual results are kept strictly confidential, the aggregated data tells a story
about the health of our shared resources,” says Dawn Adams, Crawford Co. Public
Health Specialist.
In addition to these public forums, expert staff from the UW-Stevens Point Center for Watershed
Science and Education will deliver formal briefings to the Crawford, Richland, and Vernon
County Boards.
Local Resources & Contact
The responsibility for testing the safety of private wells lies with individual landowners. County
Health and Conservation Departments offer resources to help. More information can be found
at the DAWS webpage:
https://www.vernoncountywi.gov/departments/land_and_water_conservation/driftless_area_wat
er_study.php