KEWAUKEE, Wis. (AP) - Preliminary results of a study on an east Wisconsin county’s groundwater indicate some wells in the area contain fecal microbes that can make people sick.
The two-year study found that about 380 residents in Kewaunee County are at risk of contracting a stomach parasite called cryptosporidiosis, which can cause diarrhea, Wisconsin Public Radio (https://bit.ly/2rIBUPw ) reported.
U.S. Department of Agriculture microbiologist Mark Borchardt and a team from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh monitored more than 620 wells. Almost 5,000 households in the county depend on private wells.
The study found that some wells contained traces of fecal matter, which may be from cows and likely entered groundwater through shallow topsoil. The most severe contamination occurs after heavy rain or a quick snow melt, Borchardt said.
Between two to nine cases of cryptosporidiosis are confirmed in the county every year, Borchardt said. He estimates the number of cases is closer to 140 each year because the symptoms often go unreported.
The initial findings indicate that the county has a problem it needs to address, said Lynn Utesch, the founder of Kewaunee Cares, an environmental group that focuses on water quality issues. He said the county should look at land use practices and consider putting a stop to herd expansion in the area.
Maureen Muldoon, a geologist and professor at the university, said the numbers and statistics still need to be calculated to truly figure out where the pathogens found in the wells originate.
There’s no timeline for when the USDA will finalize the study’s findings.
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Information from: Wisconsin Public Radio, https://www.wpr.org
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