How the Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council helps protect and manage your groundwater and why this is important to you and Wisconsin
By the Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC)
Why is protecting and managing Wisconsin’s groundwater so important?
A little girl holding a parent's hand while playing in a water sprinkler
We depend heavily on groundwater for our drinking water.
Groundwater pollution from human activities and natural sources occurs across Wisconsin. This is of particular concern for the more than 70% of Wisconsin residents who get their drinking water from groundwater.
Is the tap water you and your family members are drinking safe?
A young boy and girl drinking from the tap
Groundwater sustains our economy.
Wisconsin depends heavily on groundwater to irrigate crops, water cattle and process a wide variety of foods. Groups concerned about groundwater include farmers who rely on safe groundwater for crop and livestock production and business owners who rely on groundwater for manufacturing and commerce.
Some of our most important industries - fruit and vegetable processing, cheese-making, dairy farming, meat processing and brewing - need pure, clean groundwater to make the goods Wisconsin is famous for.
Groundwater users including a cranberry farmer and cheesemakers
Our lakes, rivers and streams are fed by groundwater.
Fish and wildlife can't thrive when groundwater contaminants impact the water they depend on.
We aren’t the only ones who rely on clean groundwater. Without healthy groundwater, wildlife will not thrive.
The Groundwater Coordinating Council (GCC) helps protect and manage our groundwater.
The GCC was formed in 1984 to help state agencies coordinate non-regulatory activities and exchange information for efficient groundwater protection and management. For over 30 years, the GCC has been a model for interagency coordination and collaboration among state agencies, local and federal government, and the university. This coordination avoids duplication, creates efficiencies and provides numerous benefits to Wisconsin's taxpayers. New groundwater challenges and innovative ideas continue to warrant the GCC’s collaborative approach. Watch the video to learn more:
Watch the videoto learn more about Wisconsin's GCC. Members include Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP); Department of Safety & Professional Services (DSPS); Department of Health Services (DHS); Department of Transportation (DOT); Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS); Universities of Wisconsin (UW) and a Governor's Representative.
As a result of coordination, groundwater is better protected, which benefits public health, sustains our economy and preserves Wisconsin's natural resources for future generations.
Promotes efforts to enhance the utility of groundwater monitoring and research funded by the state.
Field work
Piezometers
Doing research on a private well
Research in the field
Groundwater researchers and monitoring wells.
The GCC has funded over 30 years of groundwater research projects that have provided valuable information about Wisconsin's groundwater resources, helped evaluate existing programs, increased the knowledge of the movement of contaminants in the subsurface and developed new methods for groundwater evaluation and protection.
Coordinates a joint solicitation for groundwater research and monitoring proposals among four state agencies.
Wisconsin's reputation for groundwater research is largely due to the well-established joint solicitation process for groundwater research and monitoring projects. This approach streamlines proposal writing and the review process and improves communication among agencies and researchers.
Ensures consistency among federal, state and local agencies in groundwater education, communication and coordination.
NPM Program Northeast Regional Specialist, Jamie Patton,
discusses soil health with a group farmers and natural resources
conservation staff. Photo: Dairy Business Association
Sarah Yang of Wisconsin DHS giving a talk on PFAS
Groundwater education and outreach is consistent across all the agencies.
Prepares an annual report to the Legislature.
The GCC Report to the Legislature summarizes the operations and activities of the council, describes the state of the groundwater resource and its management and makes recommendations. The Annual Report to the Legislature is released each August and includes the GCC's recommendations for future groundwater protection and management. These recommendations include top priorities of immediate concern and ongoing efforts that require continued support.
Priority Recommendations
The GCC identifies these top priorities of immediate concern:
Image of very clear water
1. Set new and revised health-based groundwater standards that are imperative for protecting public health and the environment from PFAS, nitrate and other contaminants.
Wisconsin has a long and proud history of groundwater protection. Wisconsin’s groundwater law adopted in 1983 is held up as one of the nation’s model environmental laws in part because of its robust, science-based process for protecting the quality of our groundwater and public health.
A sign that says High Bacteria Count, No Water Contact in a natural setting
What do we know about groundwater standards?
For 40 years, the groundwater law has guided the rule-making process that the DNR and DHS follow, ensuring a scientifically rigorous review of available technical information and clarity on how recommended groundwater standards are selected.
Regrettably, the DNR has been unable to adopt the recommended groundwater standards due to rulemaking being prematurely halted when the economic impact analysis exceeded amounts set in law. As a result, the backlog of necessary standards and revisions continues to grow.
Why do we care about the approval of groundwater standards?
It is important for the state to set standards for substances that are detected in groundwater and are shown to have a detrimental effect on human health. Adequate supplies of uncontaminated groundwater are crucial not only for the water we consume but also for our agricultural operations and breweries in Wisconsin.
Adopting groundwater standards are key for all council members in their continuing work to ensure every Wisconsinite has access to clean, safe drinking water. Clean drinking water in Wisconsin remains a public health priority for the council.
The GCC recommends the following :
Allow the DNR and DHS to finish rule-making that protects groundwater.
A monitoring well can be used to gather groundwater data.
Forty-six groundwater standards, first identified in 2019 and 2020, remain unaddressed. Thirty-eight new numerical standards also remain to be addressed - including 18 PFAS, 18 pesticides and two metals.
A total of 10 metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCS) also have updated human-health information requiring a review of their existing standards.
Without these new and revised numerical health-based standards, groundwater regulatory programs remain unable to protect the public health of Wisconsin residents.
2. Implement agricultural practices that protect groundwater from nitrate, pesticides and other agricultural contaminants.
While using nitrate and pesticides in agriculture has benefits such as larger crop yields, high concentrations in groundwater lead to public health concerns.
A flooded field after manure spreading. Nutrient application on agricultural fields accounts for 90% of nitrates in our groundwater.
Tractor spreading manure on a field
What do we know about nitrate, pesticides and other agricultural contaminants in our groundwater?
Nitrate can enter our groundwater (and then our drinking water) from fertilizer, animal and human waste runoff. Graphic created by Minnesota Department of Health. Used with permission.
Nitrate has been found in wells in every county in Wisconsin.
Nitrate is Wisconsin's most widespread groundwater contaminant, and the contamination of groundwater is increasing in extent and severity.
Most nitrate in groundwater (about 90%) is due to agricultural inputs, including manure spreading and fertilizer application.
Areas of the state with a higher intensity of agriculture generally have higher frequencies of nitrate detection.
The main source of pesticides in groundwater is agricultural herbicide and insecticide applications.
Pesticides are estimated to be present in approximately 43% of private drinking water wells in Wisconsin.
A map of the estimated number of wells over nitrate standard in Wisconsin - 2024
Why do we care about nitrate and pesticides in our groundwater?
Drinking water with high levels of nitrate is unsafe for everyone! It poses an acute risk to infants and women who are pregnant, a possible risk to the developing fetus during very early stages of pregnancy, and a chronic risk of serious disease in adults, such as thyroid disease and cancer. The health effects of pesticide exposure vary by substance. In Wisconsin, approximately 500 unique agricultural pesticides are used; of those, only about 30 have a groundwater quality standard.
Child taking a drink of water
Pregnant woman drinking water
When nitrate levels are high, everyone should avoid long-term use of the water for drinking and preparing foods that use a lot of water.
The GCC recommends the following to address nitrate and pesticide contamination:
Modern technology can be used for agricultural activities.
Agencies should implement the strategies that lead to efficient use of nitrogen and careful or reduced use of pesticides in order to protect groundwater and drinking water sources.
Implementation of these practices should be supported with appropriate technical tools and incentives.
Expand the statutory well compensation program. The GCC would like to see long-term funding secured for well owners to fix their wells.
Provide permanent funding to test private wells. Only one-third of private well owners have ever had their water tested for nitrate.
3. Address public health and environmental concerns regarding PFAS.
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1940s. Their ability to repel water and oil and withstand high temperatures has made PFAS a useful ingredient in products including non-stick pans and water-repellent clothing. These chemicals do not easily break down in the environment and have been known to accumulate in the environment and humans.
Firefighters spraying foam on an active fire
What do we know about PFAS and our groundwater?
PFAS have been detected in both municipal and private drinking water sources in Wisconsin.
Why do we care about PFAS in our groundwater?
One of the main ways people come into contact with PFAS is by drinking contaminated water.
Exposure to PFAS has been shown to have detrimental health effects, including the potential to cause cancer. Scientists are still learning about the health effects that various PFAS can have on the body. Research suggests that high levels of certain PFAS may:
Affect childhood development
Decrease fertility in women
Increase the risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women
Increase cholesterol levels
Increase the risk of thyroid disease
Decrease antibody response to vaccines
EPA research suggests that some PFAS may have the potential to cause cancer, but the topic requires further research
Learn more about health effects of PFAS on DHS' website.
The GCC recommends the following actions be taken to address PFAS concerns:
Implement groundwater enforcement standards for PFAS.
Pursue development of additional groundwater enforcement standards for 18 additional PFAS compounds detected in Wisconsin for which human health impacts have been identified.
Continue to identify PFAS sources and their potential impacts to groundwater and other environmental resources.
Develop benchmarks for PFAS in other resources such as surface water, biosolids and sludge to protect groundwater resources.
Support the Wisconsin PFAS Action Council (WisPAC) in developing and coordinating statewide initiatives around PFAS.
4. Find solutions for water-stressed areas affecting communities, economic activity and water resources.
Wisconsin has abundant water supply, but these resources are not evenly distributed across the state.
A series of cool water aquaculture tanks at the Wild Rose Fish Hatchery in Wild Rose, WI (credit DNR)
What do we know about water-stressed areas and groundwater?
Some areas of the state have limited groundwater supply due to aquifers with low water availability. Other areas of the state have an abundant groundwater supply but the number of wells drawing from the same aquifer coupled with a variable climate can result in impacts to groundwater-dependent natural resources.
Why do we care about water-stressed areas?
Sprinkler irrigating crops with a hazy sky with the sun in the background in Dunn County (credit DNR).
Pivot irrigation.
Groundwater withdrawals along with variable climate may result in environmental harm including residential wells or streams drying up. Municipalities and businesses need water supplies, but in areas with limited availability it can be difficult to find the water that communities or businesses require. In certain areas, the density of wells and the existing harm on waters of the state restrict the ability for new applicants to obtain a water supply.
The GCC recommends the following:
Work with counties, municipalities, businesses and individuals to identify water sources to meet needs.
Identify water conservation and efficiency measures to reduce demand in water-stressed areas.
Develop a regional framework to manage water withdrawals, such as a water use district, to address water level impacts in the Central Sands Region.
