County options for protecting or improving groundwater quality. WI Land+Water March 16, 2017

Transcription

1 County options for protecting or improving groundwater quality WI Land+Water March 16, 2017

2 Who are we? Lynn Markham, Land Use Specialist Center for Land Use Education, UW-Stevens Point Chemist & biochemist by training Land use planning and zoning Christina Anderson, Program Initiatives Coordinator WI Land+Water Works with agency partners and stakeholders to better understand nitrate transport to develop tools for communities struggling to provide safe drinking water

3 Outline 1. Maps of nitrate and pesticides 2. Health effects 3. Options to protect groundwater quality 4. Land+Water projects to reduce nitrate levels 5. More discussion

4 Groundwater is an important resource 97% of WI s communities rely on groundwater for their drinking water In addition, nearly 1 million people in Wisconsin get their drinking water from private wells Private well testing is not required Groundwater is a LOCAL resource that benefits from local planning

5 Wisconsin well water quality viewer Nitrate

6 Land use - nitrate connection Based on 35,000 samples from WI Drinking water is 3X more likely to exceed the nitrate standard in agricultural areas compared to forested areas High nitrate levels are also more common in sandy areas where the soil is more permeable In WI, nutrient application on agricultural fields accounts for 90% of nitrate in groundwater Wells contaminated with high nitrate levels are more likely to be contaminated with agricultural pesticides

7 Nitrate health effects Infants below the age of 6 months who drink water containing nitrate in excess of the MCL are especially at risk, and could become seriously ill with blue-baby syndrome, which deprives the infant of oxygen and in extreme cases can cause death In children, there is also growing evidence of a correlation between nitrate and diabetes Birth defects have also been linked to nitrate exposure. Several epidemiological studies over the past decade have examined statistical links between nitrate exposure and neural tube birth defects. Some, but not all, of these studies have concluded there is a statistical correlation between maternal ingestion of nitrate in drinking water and birth defects Source: Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Report to the Legislature: 2016 dnr.wi.gov/topic/groundwater/documents/gcc/gwquality/nitrate.pdf

8 Nitrate health effects Cancer. In the human body, nitrate can convert to nitrite and then to N-nitroso compounds, which are some of the strongest known carcinogens. As a result, additional human health concerns related to nitrate contaminated drinking water include increased risk of non-hodgkin s lymphoma stomach cancer bladder and ovarian cancer in older women In fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates nitrate can cause serious health issues and can lead to death Source: Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Report to the Legislature: 2016 dnr.wi.gov/topic/groundwater/documents/gcc/gwquality/nitrate.pdf

9 Nitrate removal costs for munis WI municipal water-supply systems over nitrate standard 14 systems in systems in 2012 To reduce nitrate levels, municipal systems collectively spent $24 million in 2004 $32.5 million in 2012 Costs and inconvenience for private well owners for filters, bottled water?

10 Pesticide use on Wisconsin crops Annual use on major agricultural crops in WI in : 11.6 million pounds of pesticides Field corn 7 million Soybeans 3 million Potatoes - 1 million Veggies ½ million Over 77 different pesticides 2 pounds per person Annual use on turf: ~1 million pounds in WI Source: Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service, data

11 Pounds per acre per year Average pounds of pesticides applied per acre each year in WI No pesticide application data available for cranberries which are grown on 21,000 acres in WI

12 After pesticides are sprayed, where do they go? People who apply pesticides Soil, tracked into homes Air, drifts for miles Plants that become food Runoff, goes into lakes & streams Drinking water

13 DEPTH BELOW GROUND SURFACE (feet) Bedfod Falls Over 77 pesticides are applied to crops in WI Groundwater health standards have been established for about 30 pesticides Municipal Well 0 20 water table Private Well water flow direction upper sandstone aquifer confining shale layer lower sandstone aquifer Ag-chemical plume An estimated 33% of private wells in Wisconsin contain a pesticide or pesticide metabolite. (DATCP, 2008, 398 wells) New DATCP GW study coming out in spring 2017.

14 Atrazine a common pesticide, approved by EPA in million pounds were applied to 4.0 million acres of field corn in WI in % of wells contained atrazine and metabolites (2008) Some people who drink water containing atrazine well in excess of the MCL over many years could experience problems with their cardiovascular system or reproductive difficulties Source: Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Report to the Legislature:

15 Wisconsin well water quality viewer Atrazine family

16 Other pesticides Metolachlor 22% of wells contained metolachlor ESA (2008) 1.5 million pounds on corn in 2014 (similar to atrazine) None used on soybeans in 2015 Alachlor 22% of wells contained alachlor ESA (2008) None used on corn or soybeans Alachlor (cont.) While use of alachlor in Wisconsin is being replaced, its metabolites are still in groundwater Some people who drink water containing alachlor in excess of the MCL over many years could have problems with their eyes, liver, kidneys, or spleen, or experience anemia, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer Sources: Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Report to the Legislature: 2016, DATCP 2008 report, National Agricultural Statistics Service

17 Pesticide mixtures Wisconsin farmers reported using 77 different pesticides in Field corn: 14 pesticides Soybeans: 17 pesticides Potatoes: 27 pesticides For wells in WI where at least one agricultural chemical was detected, on average there are 2 to 3 pesticide compounds found in the water 85% of food samples analyzed by the USDA in 2015 contained pesticide residues It is difficult to predict the health effects of multiple pesticides in drinking water; several studies indicate that pesticide mixtures can have different health effects than exposure to individual pesticides at the same concentrations Sources: Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council Report to the Legislature: 2016 DATCP 2007 report, National Agricultural Statistics Service

18 Pesticides: Cancer Top ag pesticides in WI ( ) 1. Glyphosate (corn & soybeans) 2. Metam-sodium (potatoes) 3. Metolachlor (corn) 4. Atrazine (corn) 5. Acetochlor (corn) 6. Chlorothalonil (potatoes) Top lawn & garden pesticides in U.S. 1. 2,4-D 2. Glyphosate 3. Carbaryl 4. MCPP 5. Pendimethalin Known or likely to cause cancer in humans Probably/suggestive evidence of causing cancer Unknown or possibly causes cancer/not classifiable Not likely to cause cancer in humans according to the 2016 EPA list

19 Set groundwater goals & objectives GOALS Protect groundwater quality in private and municipal wells. Decrease pesticide use in all areas (agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial). Keep nitrate concentrations below the drinking water standard. OBJECTIVES are more specific statements The Village of Trent develops a wellhead protection ordinance covering their three municipal wells by June Develop cropping agreements with owners of 200 acres within the municipal wellhead protection areas.

20 Groundwater data by county Municipal water systems Wellhead protection plans & ordinances Money spent on groundwater cleanup Leaking underground storage tanks Muni nitrate reduction Groundwater use Groundwater susceptibility Protecting Wisconsin s Groundwater website, 2007

21 Groundwater protection options

22 Stevens Point Wellhead Protection Ordinance For each zone, ordinance lists: Airport Permitted uses Conditional uses Prohibited uses Why? Jet fuel example Benzene & formaldehyde are known carcinogens Clean up costs: $2 million Biz park

23 Groundwater protection options Adopt a county-wide wellhead protection ordinance for municipal wells that don t have them These plans and ordinances are used to avoid locating petroleum and other potential groundwater contaminants where they could enter municipal drinking water supplies. Wellhead protection areas often include land within the city/village AND land in the towns which are under county zoning. Contact Wisconsin Rural Water Association or Dave Johnson at DNR for assistance.

24 Strengths and challenges of wellhead protection ordinances Requires less money initially than purchasing land Continued protection depends on continued support from elected officials Requires ongoing education for officials and public Economic interests continue to challenge regulations

25 Other approaches to wellhead protection Purchase and lease of lands around the wells: City forested recreation area Izaak Walton League lodge and shooting range Boy Scout camp Conservation easement

26 Other approaches to wellhead protection Strategically locate county forest near wells County, town or muni parks without fertilizer or pesticide use e.g. Chippewa Falls

27 Groundwater protection options Identify and properly seal unused wells. Unused wells can act as a direct conduit for contaminants to quickly travel from the land surface to the groundwater. Inexpensive groundwater protection. DNR or the Portage County Groundwater Specialist can provide information.

28 Groundwater protection options Provide educational programs for private well users about the responsibilities and protection measures that come with private wells Well-testing is the responsibility of private well owners Water testing and drinking water programs are available through Kevin Masarik at UW-Extension

29 Groundwater protection options Encourage farmers to adopt integrated pest management, rotational grazing or organic practices These practices: reduce use of potential groundwater contaminants are particularly valuable near or in recharge areas for public wells.

30 Economic development opportunity: More people buying organic food Organic food sales in the U.S. increasing at nearly 12% per year $15 billion in 2005 $43 billion in 2015 Organic farms in WI doubled in last decade to over 1,300 organic farms; 2nd in nation 2015 report found organic ag was 22-35% more profitable than conventional 10,467 acres transitioning to organic in WI (2017) Organic cost share moving to FSA

31 Drinking water in unsewered subdivisions Federal safe drinking water act requires assessment of source area for public wells, but not private wells Modeled rural subdivisions in Sauk and Dane Counties Wilcox et al Using groundwater models to evaluate strategies for drinking-water protection in rural subdivisions. Journal of the American Planning Association. 76:3:

32 2 year capture zones for wells with 30 lots on 78 acres with 3X safety factor

33 Septics/POWTS Wisconsin Example with UWSP testing Municipal well in small village in northwest WI has wellhead protection plan but no ordinance No sewer/wwtp, so homes and businesses are on septics Nitrate levels rising and nearing standard of 10 ppm Looking upgradient of municipal well, you see: Wal-Mart has leach field 1300 from well (1/4 mile) Culvers has leach field less than 2000 from well Agricultural fields located farther up gradient Carbamazepine (anti-seizure and mood stabilizing drug) found in muni well at ~50 parts per trillion No drinking water standard for carbamazepine or any other pharmaceuticals

34 Unsewered subdivision modeling

35 Subdivision recommendations Require developers include groundwater flow direction in plans Increase setback distances or minimum lot sizes in unsewered residential subdivisions to protect drinking water Allow smaller lot sizes with community well with source-area protection need neighborhood assn or other group to take responsibility for well Change state rule/code to give local entities the authority to regulate well construction and setback distances Wilcox et al Using groundwater models to evaluate strategies for drinking-water protection in rural subdivisions. Journal of the American Planning Association. 76:3:

36 Groundwater protection options 1. Adopt wellhead protection ordinances (zoning) 2. Purchase land or obtain easements or leases for lands in wellhead protection areas 3. Cropping agreements to reduce chemical inputs to groundwater 4. Identify and properly seal unused wells 5. Provide educational programs for private well owners 6. Encourage farmers to adopt integrated pest management, rotational grazing or organic practices 7. Consider septic system locations relative to private wells

37 Thank you Questions? The quality of water determines the quality of life. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lynn Markham lmarkham@uwsp.edu

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