One Year In: Gov. Evers Highlights Expanded Well Grant Programs Aimed at Improving Clean Drinking Water Access Statewide
Governor encourages private well owners to apply for available funding to address PFAS
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today highlighted his Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs—programs with enhanced and expanded eligibility beyond the existing state program and funded under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)—to help private well owners receive funding to address per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The programs, created and announced by Gov. Evers in 2022, provide $10 million in financial assistance to well owners to address contamination in their wells by awarding grants for the replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandonment of impacted wells. Due to the expanded eligibility under the program created by Gov. Evers, many previously ineligible individuals applied over the past year, including some small Wisconsin businesses with a non-community well, including daycare centers, rural restaurants, and churches, among others.
There is still time to apply for a well compensation grant under expanded eligibility criteria through the governor’s ARPA-funded program. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will accept applications until funding runs out or Dec. 6, 2024, whichever happens sooner. Applicants are encouraged to submit as soon as possible to ensure funding remains available. More information is available at the DNR’s Well Compensation Grant webpage and the Well Abandonment Grant webpage.
To date, DNR has awarded more than 46 percent of the $10 million investment to 370 grantees statewide, including the replacement of 207 contaminated wells, the treatment of 43 contaminated wells, and 120 unused, abandoned wells that were properly filled and sealed.
Additionally, DNR is in the process of creating a new grant program to help public water systems with drinking water contaminated by PFAS or other emerging contaminants. This upcoming program will be designed to help small and disadvantaged public water systems not currently eligible for the ARPA well compensation grants, including privately owned community water systems such as mobile home parks and condominium associations and nonprofit, non-community water systems such as public schools. The grant program is expected to be ready to accept applications in early 2024. Questions about this grant program can be addressed to DNRECSDCGrants@wisconsin.gov.
An online version of this release is available here.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
More about the PFAS Problem
- French Island Makes Progress on PFAS Pollution - Richelle Wilson and Trevor Hook - Mar 24th, 2025
- Who Will Pay for PFAS Pollution? - Bennet Goldstein - Feb 27th, 2025
- Gov. Evers’ biennial state budget prioritizes clean water, clean energy, and public lands for Wisconsin - Wisconsin Conservation Voters - Feb 18th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Announces Comprehensive Plan to Ensure Clean Water for Kids and Families in 2025 Year of the Kid - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 18th, 2025
- GOP Lawmakers Propose School Water Filters to Address PFAS, Lead - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 14th, 2025
- Wisconsin Conservation Voters thank Gov. Evers for prioritizing public health, urges bipartisan prioritization of baseline PFAS groundwater standards - Wisconsin Conservation Voters - Feb 5th, 2025
- Evers Announces $145 Million Plan to Address PFAS - Danielle Kaeding - Feb 4th, 2025
- Senator Jodi Habush Sinykin Praises Governor Evers’ Proactive Plan to Address PFAS in Our Water - State Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin - Feb 4th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Announces New Plans to Combat PFAS, Protect Kids and Families from Harmful Contaminants, and Expand Access to Clean, Safe Drinking Water - Gov. Tony Evers - Feb 4th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Kicks Off 2025 Year of The Kid with Efforts to Ensure Kids and Families Have Access to Safe, Clean Drinking Water - Gov. Tony Evers - Jan 28th, 2025
Read more about PFAS Problem here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Gov. Tony Evers
Gov. Evers Takes Action on Six Bills
Mar 28th, 2025 by Gov. Tony EversGovernor signs bills to continue efforts combatting the opioid epidemic, support Tribal governments, provide wage increases for certain public employees
Gov. Evers Announces Evers Administration to Recruit Federal Workers Affected by Mass Trump Administration Firings
Mar 27th, 2025 by Gov. Tony EversGovernor launches new portal to support fired federal workers and other displaced professionals as Evers Administration announces series of virtual job fairs recruiting in high-demand sectors
Gov. Evers Urges Bipartisan Support for Historic Capital Budget Projected to Generate Over $7 Billion in Economic Activity and 41,000 Jobs Statewide
Mar 25th, 2025 by Gov. Tony EversState Building Commission slated to vote today on governor’s capital budget that addresses growing backlog of maintenance projects, invests in future of the UW System, and modernizes corrections statewide, among other key priorities