Coalition of Groups Asking Wisconsin Lawmakers to Invest in Water Infrastructure

Thursday, January 2nd, 2025 -- 9:00 AM

(Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) A coalition of groups are asking Wisconsin lawmakers to invest almost $1 billion in water infrastructure in addition to policy changes and other preventive measures to protect safe drinking water. 

According to Danielle Kaeding with the Wisconsin Public Radio, more than 30 conservation, environmental and citizens groups signed a letter calling on lawmakers to invest $953 million for drinking water infrastructure under the next two-year state budget.

The request comes as the nation marks the 50th anniversary of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. Peter Burress, government affairs manager with Wisconsin Conservation Voters, said communities are struggling to improve infrastructure in the face of limits on raising revenues. Without state funding, groups say local governments will be forced to delay upgrades or significantly raise water rates to pay for projects.

“When we’re sitting on a $4 billion surplus, we strongly believe that access to safe drinking water should not be a zero sum competition, and that we should use the resources we have to ensure that everyone can turn on the tap and know that the water coming out of it is safe to drink,” said Burress.

The letter highlights multiple challenges affecting safe drinking water. They include roughly 150,000 lead service lines owned by utilities that need to be replaced, as well as more than 42,000 private wells that exceed the health standard for nitrates and around 90 water systems with high PFAS levels.

Contamination from those sources have been known to cause serious health issues, including blue-baby syndrome, thyroid cancer and developmental delays in children.

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