NewsBits - Issue 9, March 2020

- by Liesa Lehmann, Private Water Supply Section Chief

It seems like winter may be ending soon.  And after 3+ years, NR 812 Rule Revisions are also coming soon. Final legislative review is underway, and proposed NR 812 Rule Changes are estimated to go into effect on June 1, 2020. DNR staff are busy updating publications and data systems, and preparing training for all drillers and pump installers. We’ll keep you posted, so watch your mail and email in the coming months for training opportunities and more information.. 

Retirement Congratulations for Sandy and Judy

Two more long-time staff have retired from DNR. After 41 years of state service, Sandy Hershberger retired on January 6. Sandy spent most of her career reviewing well construction reports, filling and sealing reports, and private well water samples. Judy Gifford retired on January 24 after almost 28 years working to help contractors obtain and renew licenses, and develop technology tools. Best wishes to both Sandy and Judy in their retirement!

Welcome Bill Shockley

Bill Shockley starts as the new IT/GIS Project Manager for DNR’s Private Water Supply section in March.  Bill has degrees in Geography-Cartography and Sociology, and nearly 20 years of professional work experience managing GIS applications and databases.  Bill will manage DNR’s well construction database, and will create and enhance electronic systems for use by DNR staff, drillers and pump installers.

Well Driller Viewer – Mobile friendly app

Many of you use the Well Driller Viewer for planning construction projects, and you’ve told us that the internet version doesn’t work as well on a mobile phone.  Now you can access this tool anywhere, through a free app on your smartphone.  Follow these simple instructions to download the “Explorer for ArcGIS" app, and access the Well Driller Viewer–Mobile Friendly Map. We hope you’ll enjoy the easier navigation and use this tool on your smartphone when you’re in the field and on job sites.

Search Well Records

DNR’s new Well Records Search interface provides updated tools to find well construction reports (WCRs), including:

• One place to search for reports instead of two
• Search by text or by map
• WCRs for public water systems are now included – some location information is removed for municipal and community (OTM) wells
• Pre-1988 WCRs are included - WUWN starts with “8” then AA001, for example 8AB123

Anyone can use these tools by going to DNR’s “Wells” web page, and clicking the yellow “Search Well Records” box.

Well construction reports are due to DNR within 30 days after a well is constructed or reconstructed. If you have difficulty meeting the 30-day deadline for your well construction reports, go electronic! More than 70 drillers now use the “Online WCR” electronic reporting system to submit their well construction reports, and they say it takes less time, reduces errors, and customers can find the reports online quickly. In 2019, 60% of all well construction reports were submitted electronically. You only need a WAMS ID, password and assigned Unique Well Numbers to use the Online WCR system. Go to Getting Started with Online WCR and give it a try!

Most well professionals follow the regulations, some might have an occasional slip-up, and others have frequent late or missing reports. Do your business practices help you comply with well construction and pump installing regulations? Waiting until winter or when business slows down can cause you to miss deadlines and other important requirements, leading to noncompliance and possible enforcement. Making a change to your business practices – for example, sitting down once a week to catch up on reports – can help you comply and prevent enforcement problems in the future. 

If you know about or suspect a violation - report it and DNR will investigate. Call or text the information to the numbers below, or submit a report online.

Final Tidbits

• Wisconsin Unique Well Numbers for new wells are now six-digits long, with three letters followed by three numbers. The new WUWNs start with AAA001.
• Online License Renewal lets you to pay and sign your renewal form electronically, saving time and eliminating mailing costs. 37% of license holders renewed online in late 2019. We’ll be making improvements for 2020 based on your feedback.
• The updated Property Transfer Well Inspection form has clearer wording in the list of noncomplying features, a new check-box in the Comments section, and three options for the Compliance Determination. Use the 11/19 version of Form #3300-221 for your inspections.
• Two new Property Transfer Well Inspection fact sheets explain the inspection process:

“Property Transfer Well Inspections: A fact sheet for buyers and sellers”

“Understanding your Property Transfer Well Inspection Results: A fact sheet for buyers and sellers”

NewsBits

NewsBits is published by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater. Archived issues are available at: dnr.wi.gov/topic/wells/newsbits.html.