Governor Evers has announced a crucial enhancement to the state’s commitment to public health by introducing an additional round of federal grant funding, amounting to $5 million, aimed at supporting the replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandonment of contaminated private wells. This initiative significantly broadens the scope of the grant programs, expanding both support for private well owners and access to clean drinking water. Notably, the eligibility criteria have been revised to include individuals previously deemed ineligible, such as small businesses with non-community wells, including daycare centers, rural restaurants, and churches, specifically addressing contamination from PFAS.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) commenced accepting applications for these grants on February 3, 2025. The revised eligibility criteria are comprehensive: any well with nitrate concentrations at or above the public health standard of 10 parts per million is eligible, a significant reduction from the previous threshold of 40 ppm. Additionally, wells contaminated with arsenic at levels of 10 parts per billion, as opposed to the previous limit of 50 ppb, will now qualify. New provisions also include wells with bacterial contamination posing a human health risk and wells with PFAS levels surpassing the drinking water standard of 70 parts per trillion. Each applicant must submit laboratory results confirming contamination, with a maximum award amount set at $16,000 and a cost share requirement of zero dollars, facilitating access to vital resources for affected individuals and communities.