Chippewa Falls, WI —The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for the new American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Programs. The new programs will provide $10 million in financial assistance to well owners to address contamination in their wells. The DNR will accept applications while funding is available.

The grant programs will support the replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandonment of contaminated private wells. The program expands eligibility beyond the current Well Compensation Program to support more private well owners and increase access to clean drinking water.

The expanded eligibility criteria include these changes:

• Lowering the nitrate threshold for nitrate- contaminated wells from 40 parts per million (ppm) to 10 ppm to comply with the state’s public health standards.

• Lowering the arsenic standard for arsenic- contaminated wells from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb to comply with federal drinking water standards.

• Allowing any source of bacterial contamination that presents a human health risk to be eligible for the program, not just fecal bacteria caused by livestock.

• A well with PFAS exceeding the drinking water standard in Ch. NR 809 (70 parts per trillion for PFOA+PFAS) or subject to an advisory from the Department of Health due to the levels of PFAS in the well is eligible for Well Compensation.

• Increasing the family income limit for grants from $65,000 to $100,000.

• Eliminating the requirement that an award must be reduced by 30 percent of the amount if the owner or renter’s income exceeds $45,000.

• Expanding eligible applicants to include owners of contaminated non-community wells (churches, daycare centers, rural restaurants, and other small businesses) and basing income eligibility on the property or business owner’s income instead of family income.

All applicants must provide results of two water samples, taken at least two weeks apart, that confirm the contamination in their well. Households with pregnant women or infants may be eligible for free water testing. Contact the Chippewa County Department of Public Health at 715-726-7900 to learn more. Samples must be tested at a certified laboratory, and testing needs to have been done within the last two years of the application date to be eligible. Any work done before the grant award is ineligible.

Well owners interested in applying can complete the Well Compensation Grant Preliminary Eligibility questionnaire. Learn more about the Well Compensation Grant program at: dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/WellCompensation. html.

Additionally, financial assistance is available to properly fill and seal abandoned or unused private or non-community wells. Eligibility can be determined by completing the Well Abandonment Grant Preliminary Eligibility questionnaire. Well owners eligible for a Well Abandonment Grant can learn more at the Well Abandonment Grant Program webpage.

Individuals interested in learning more about the American Rescue Plan Act Well Grant Programs can attend a webinar at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10, 2022, and should register in advance.