Plover Area Nitrate Study 1986

Forward: I wish to thank the Public Water Section of the Wis. Department of Natural Resources for their assistance in making this study a reality. I also wish to thank the Wis. Geological and Natural History Survey for their help with the test wells and Mr. John Bruce, Wis. DNR, for helping with the water sampling.

This report serves to complement the study work done by Mr. George Kraft on the west side of Plover. He is studying the nitrate and aldicarb concentrations there and the two watersheds overlap. He is a graduate student and some of his work was funded by the State of Wis.

This report also gives the Public Water Section much needed information on the many other-than-municipal (OTM) and noncommunity water systems present. On the basis of this report, variances from meeting the nitrate health limit will be applied for at two OTM water systems and one mobile home park was already asked to explore the possibility of a deeper well. Yet another mobile home park has already deepened their well when it became clear lower nitrate water was available at a deeper depth.

It also appears several restaurants will have to continue posting nitrate warning signs as better water is not available.

Most importantly, this report provides an insight into what is happening with this watershed and this report illustrates how having intense agriculture next to businesses serving water is not always compatible zoning.