From The Section
Welcome to the Spring 2023 issue of News Bits. This newsletter contains important updates regarding staffing, code revisions, well compensation and licensing exams.
-Marty Nessman, Private Water Supply Section Chief
New Faces
In December, the Private Water section welcomed Grace Fleszewski and Adam Ornelles to the team.
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Grace is an intake specialist/hydrogeologist for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Well Compensation Grant program. Grace has been helping well owners with their grant applications and providing technical review for well abandonment grants. |
Adam Ornelles is a hydrogeologist in the ARPA Grant program. Adam provides technical review of well compensation grant applications and works closely with well owners, well drillers and pump installers to provide the best possible outcome for applicants dealing with well contamination. |
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In April, the Private Water team welcomed two new compliance review assistants, Kelcie Fuhrman and Sophia Ziehr.
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Kelcie and Sophia will be reviewing well construction and well filling and sealing reports for compliance with NR 812 requirements to reduce our backlog of unapproved reports.
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From The Field
What Are We Working On?
Our field experts and specialists are working hard to identify areas where we need better consistency and information in order to provide the best customer service to you. There are several workgroups and projects underway that will do just that.
Well Sample Data – The world of database management is a complicated one. We are currently digging into the process of how sample data ends up in our database from the initial water sample form submittal to labs, how the labs provide sample results to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and how the DNR tracks and reports that data. We are pinpointing areas where we can improve the system which will ultimately result in the ability to find more sample results with ease. Some of these improvements have recently been made.
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DID YOU KNOW? - You can now search for samples in our Groundwater Retrieval Network by sample collector name, well constructor license number and pump installer license number if that information was provided on the lab form. These fields are also available when exporting data. Try it out using the “Search Sample Analytical Data – Sample History Report” option.
Inspection And Enforcement Consistency – It is important that we use a similar approach to our compliance inspections and enforcement whether the well is located in Ashland or Milwaukee. Field experts and specialists have been spending time in the field with each other around the state to learn best practices and approaches. This also allows them to become familiar with well drilling techniques or equipment that may not be common in their coverage area. Additionally, we are working to develop a better way to track and improve consistency for our primary enforcement activities (verbal, text, e-mail notices or formal notices of non-compliance).
Realtor Education On Property Transfer Well Inspections – Some of our most common calls and questions stem from issues that arise during property transfer well inspections. We have recently initiated outreach and in-person education specific to the real estate industry to provide information about the DNR’s role during property transfers, licensing requirements for well inspectors and to answer many commonly asked questions. It is our plan to eventually provide this information and education to real estate professionals statewide.
Variances Application And Review Process – A recent deep-dive into our variance data revealed an overall need for applicants to provide greater detail in the feasibility section. In order to make this process easier for applicants, we are planning to draft template statements that applicants may select from and add to which will provide a more complete and accurate application before it is submitted to the DNR. This will minimize delays in the review process and ongoing questions from our staff. We are also working to improve and maintain a uniform statewide approach to variance reviews and approvals.
Pump Installer Notification Requirements – We are continuing to take steps to increase the number of contacts with pump installers statewide. This effort is intended to establish relationships, observe pump installation work and answer questions to help you comply with code requirements. Every three months we are requiring a different group of pump installers statewide to provide advance notice for pump work in accordance with s. NR 812.03(1) Wisc. Admin. Code. We appreciate your help with these efforts and we’re looking forward to seeing you in the field!
What's New
ARPA Well Grants Update
In October, the DNR began accepting applications for grants to support the replacement, reconstruction, treatment or abandonment of contaminated private and non-community public water supply wells. Approximately $10 million was allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to create the program. The grant expanded eligibility to well owners with nitrate contamination that were previously not eligible unless the well was used for watering livestock and wells with bacteria that were previously only eligible if the bacteria was from livestock.
The changes to grant eligibility have allowed over 150 individuals to receive grants totaling over $1.3 million in just the first four months of the program. The success of the program so far is due to the hard work of well drillers and pump installers who have provided cost estimates and assistance to well owners with high nitrates, bacteria and other acute contaminants. The DNR appreciates the extra time that you have taken to work with us when we have questions or need additional information to help process applications.
The DNR will accept applications and issue awards on a continuous basis until all funding is expended. Application materials are available on our web pages:
Questions about the program can be sent to DNRARPAWellGrants@wisconsin.gov.
The DNR has a GovDelivery list to sign up to receive updates about the new program. Interested parties can sign up on the GovDelivery subscription signup webpage. Under the “Grants and Loans” category, check the box next to “ARPA Well Grant”.
ARPA Well Grant Flier Available
We have also created a flier to build awareness among potential applicants for the ARPA Well Grants. Feel free to share this flier with potential applicants. The flier can also be found on both grant program webpages linked above.
Technology
With the new requirement for online reporting, several new features have been added to the Well Construction Report (WCR) system to improve its functionality.
Changes To WUWNs
Assigning new WUWNs to wells can be done from the report entry screen and will no longer require DNR staff to assign WUWNs to license holders.
When entering a new Well Construction Report (WCR), the “Generate a WUWN” button will appear next to the WUWN field. Clicking this button will generate and assign a new WUWN for the well that is entered.
Multiple Ways To Print WCRs And Lab Slips
Printing WCRs and lab slips can be done from both the report list and report entry screens.
From the report list screen:
- Clicking the printer icon (
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- Clicking the report icon (
 ) will generate a copy of the WCR populated with the information that’s been entered and saved into the system.
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Once saved, from the report entry screen:
- Clicking the “Print Lab Slip” button will generate a First Water Quality Test lab slip pre-populated with both owner and well driller information.
- Clicking the “Print WCR” button will generate a copy of the WCR populated with the information that’s been entered and saved into the system.
Did You Know?
A Well Construction Report can be saved once the owner, driller and county has been entered.
By starting and saving a WCR prior to heading out, printed copies of the lab slip and WCR can be sent to the drill site for operators to use for samples and recording well construction information.
Code Revisions
The proposed permanent revisions to Chapter NR 812, Wisconsin Administration Code to allow the use of Type IL cement as an annular space seal and for well filling and sealing, will be presented to the Natural Resources Board (NRB) for approval at their May 24 meeting. An emergency rule took effect in January and once approved by NRB, the permanent rules should take effect before the end of 2023.
The Private Water section has started work on scope statements to revise Chapter NR 146, Wisconsin Administrative Code related to pump installer, well driller and heat exchange driller licensing and continuing education, as well as Chapter NR 812, Wisconsin Administrative Code related to pump installation requirements. The DNR anticipates holding a hearing on the proposed scope statements this fall. More information will be shared as these items move through the revision process.
Compliance
In-Person DNR Proctored License Exams Available
The Wisconsin DNR will be proctoring in-person license exams in 2023. Sessions are available at 9 a.m. or 1 p.m. from the following list of dates and locations:
- June 20 – Rhinelander (application postmarked no later than May 30)
- June 21 – Rice Lake (application postmarked no later than May 31)
To download the in-person exam application form, visit the Operator Certification Exams webpage.
Links to download application forms can be found below the DNR IN-PERSON PAPER EXAM APPLICATION FORMS section located under the DNR Applications tab. Applications must be submitted by mail with fee payment and postmarked no later than three weeks prior to the date of the exam. All sessions will be proctored in-person by Wisconsin DNR staff. More information is provided on the exam application. You may also contact the DNR at DNRDGLicensing@wisconsin.gov for further information.
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