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Public Health

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    Public notification rule

    Public notification is an important part of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made significant changes to the Public Notification Rule, which were added to Wisconsin Administrative Code, Chapter NR…

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    Manure and drinking water

    Livestock manure may infiltrate drinking water wells from field application, spills and weather events. Manure may contain fecal bacteria, viruses and nitrates that can cause acute illness, especially in sensitive populations such as infants, women…

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    Drinking water and lead

    Lead is a common metal. Although originally used in many consumer products, lead is now known to be harmful to human health if ingested or inhaled. It can be found in lead-based paint, air, soil, household dust, food, some types of pottery and…

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    Municipal water system disinfection

    The vast majority of Wisconsin’s municipal water systems currently disinfect the water they deliver to consumers, killing viruses and bacteria that can unexpectedly occur. Learn if your municipal water system disinfects its water Here's how you…

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    Contaminants

    This information can help you learn more about contaminants in drinking water, make decisions about water testing, assess your personal health situation and understand options for water supply or treatment if needed.

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    Risk & Resilience Assessments and Emergency Response Plans (AWIA Section 2013)

    Section 2013 of AWIA requires community water systems that serve a population of 3,300 or more to conduct a risk and resilience assessment and develop an emergency response plan that must be updated and certified every five years. These…

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    Source water protection

    Source water protection helps prevent contaminants from entering sources of drinking water. It's the first line of defense to reduce the chance that contaminants will be in a glass of water from your tap. Source water protection avoids potential…

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    What’s wrong with my water?

    You wonder if something's wrong with the water coming from your private well. It smells, tastes or looks different; or it stains your laundry or bathroom fixtures. Confirm the cause of your water complaints before attempting to fix them. Get the…

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    The quality of Wisconsin's drinking water

    Safe, clean drinking water is what we expect when we turn on our faucets. The Wisconsin DNR works to protect the quality and quantity of the state’s water resources and ensure the safety of drinking water. We're here to help you be better informed…

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    Identify your water’s symptoms

    Diagnose your water concerns based on the symptoms you notice about your drinking water. Possible causes are listed with the most likely first. Get answers to these and more questions:

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