BRUSSELS, WI -- Safe drinking water is a must have for any community.
In Door County, where many depend on private wells, contaminated groundwater is a growing concern. Blame it on geography, but experts say Door County's aquifers are easier to contaminate than others.
This week, one group is turning those worries into awareness.
Starting this weekend, Healthy Water Door County is making sure everyone who wants to know whether their well is safe can find out for free.
In the town of Brussels, "it's quiet, it's nice," says resident Tracy Koontz, who adds he's "pretty much lived in Door County my whole life."
Koontz is a volunteer firefighter, but tonight he's catching up on yard work.
"Planting flowers," he adds, laughing.
Koontz says he uses a private well in his home, and takes some precautions with it.
"I have to buy a filter, and put a filter on my faucet," says Koontz. "But at the end of the day, I've never had the water tested."
It's a fact he says is concerning, knowing that the area is more vulnerable to contaminated drinking water.
"It's a lot of fractured rock here," says Koontz. "There's very little soil."
Dr. John Luczaj, a professor of Geosciences at UW Green Bay, and an expert on the area's aquifers, says Door County dolostone and limestone aquifers have "fractures, or caves, that can move water much more rapidly. You can get a mile per day in some rare circumstances."
"Unfortunately, with the large farms--not only in our area, but the surrounding areas, that haul manure to our area--yeah, I'm very concerned about the groundwater," adds Koontz.
These are among the reasons why Healthy Water Door County leaders say they're bringing back a second year of free well testing kits to every county neighbor who wants one.
Officials say, last year, 500 homes jumped at the chance to check their wells for bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, lead, and iron.
It's a chance that Koontz says he won't miss this year.
"Yeah, absolutely," says Koontz. "I'd love to have a kit."
There's just a two weekend window for Door County neighbors to get a free well testing kit, starting this Friday, in Sturgeon Bay:
Test Kits may be picked up and dropped off at the following locations:
Friday, June 3rd, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. -- Saturday, June 4th, from 9 a.m. to Noon
Clay Banks Town Hall – 6098 County Road OO, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Crossroads at Big Creek – 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Department – 2258 Mill Rd, Sister Bay, WI 54234
Friday, June 12th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. -- Saturday, June 13th, from 9 a.m. to Noon
Clay Banks Town Hall – 6098 County Road OO, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Crossroads at Big Creek – 2041 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54325
Sister Bay Liberty Grove Fire Department – 2258 Mill Rd, Sister Bay, WI 54234
