Research Finds Private Water Wells in Southwestern Wisconsin Contaminated by Human Waste

Wednesday, May 25th, 2022 -- 9:00 AM

(Wisconsin Ag Connection) Researchers have found that the majority of contamination in private water wells in southwestern Wisconsin were actually attributed to human waste, and not from animal agriculture.

According to the Wisconsin Ag Connection, that's according to a years-long study conducted by the Southwest Wisconsin Groundwater and Geology, or SWIGG. The group randomly tested 816 wells in the region during 2018 and 2019.

Of those wells, researchers found 32 percent had contamination, which is higher than the statewide average. It further concluded that human wastewater was the biggest contributor to the contamination, as it was detected in 64 wells. Cattle manure was found in 33 wells, and pig manure was present in 13 wells.

Kim Bremmer of Venture Dairy Cooperative says the research sheds light on the fact that in southwest Wisconsin, if your well tests positive for fecal contamination, you are nearly twice as likely to have human waste from a failing septic system than manure from a cow.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.