Governor Evers Announces Recipients of Well Replacement and Abandonment

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022 -- 8:00 AM

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, announced the first grant awards for the new program announced by Gov. Evers in August to provide financial assistance to well owners to support the replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandonment of contaminated private wells.

The governor and DNR announced five grants have been awarded to improve drinking water quality in Marathon, Portage, and Winnebago counties, including two well compensation grants totaling $30,791 and three well abandonment grants totaling $4,144.

These new programs, made possible by federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, are a $10 million commitment from Gov. Evers to improve drinking water quality for private well owners across the state.

With this $10 million investment and broader eligibility criteria than what was previously provided by the state’s existing Well Compensation Grant Program, it is estimated the ARPA Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs could help well owners address contamination in more than 1,030 wells across the state.

DNR began accepting applications for the programs on Oct. 3, 2022, and in the first three weeks of the application period, has received nearly two dozen applications from every region in the state.

DNR will continue to accept and review applications until the funding is exhausted. More information regarding the ARPA Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs is available on the DNR website here.

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