Crawford Stewardship staff were excited to attend TCWC’s latest meeting on December 10th where the results of their recent well testing project were shared. UW Stevens Point scientists presented and interpreted the results of the 44 wells tested in the Tainter Creek Watershed. Overall, results were fairly common. Fortunately, no ecoli were found in any of the wells. 25% of wells were found to contain coliform bacteria, which is a broad category or bacterial organisms which generally do not cause illness, but are an indicator of potential pathways for other harmful organisms to enter the drinking water supply.

The largest concerns found were unsafe nitrate levels, which were found in 23% of wells! With an additional 49% of wells showing nitrate levels below official unsafe levels, but higher than naturally caused ranges and capable of causing human health impacts. The sources of these high nitrate levels are not hard to correlate. It is the same story all over. Agricultural nutrients leaching into the drinking water from farm fields.

Here at CSP we are enthused by the growing movement of concerned farmers, neighbors, and groups coming together to test drinking water and make informed decisions about protecting our watersheds from contamination and pollution.

Crawford Stewardship Project has just launched our own Drinking Water Education and Testing Campaign in Crawford County. We will be providing a 80% financial subsidy to the first 50 Crawford County supporters that sign up for our campaign! Visit our website for more details!