Protecting Our Groundwater In Madison

Have You Seen These Signs?

Madison Water Utilities wants you to get involved in protecting wellheads in and around your home, lot, or farming area. Wellhead Protection takes center stage here in Madison; and if you drive on Park St., University Ave. or Whitney Way, you may have noticed a few new road signs.

These signs like in the picture on the right are part of our Wellhead Protection Program, which identifies, manages, and protects land areas that contribute groundwater to the city’s 22 drinking water wells. You may not realize it, but what gets put on the ground – from road salt to fertilizers and pesticides to petroleum products – has the potential to end up in our groundwater and could contaminate our drinking water supply.

City Officials here in Madison say that over the next several years, signs will go up near all 22 wells across the city. Madison Water Utility chose to put the first signs near University and Whitney way because of increasing concerns about road salt use in the area. A municipal water well that sits near the intersection pumps 800 million gallons of drinking water to homes and businesses every year, but it’s been showing some signs of contamination because of heavy road salt use.

The utility has joined forces with other agencies and environmental groups to encourage responsible road salt use through the Wisconsin Salt Wise. It All Goes Somewhere and eventually, chemicals and pollutants dumped on the ground will make their way to our aquifer. This is the most important reason why Madison Water Utility has created its ongoing Wellhead Protection Program; to identify specific areas for each of our wells where groundwater contributes to the well water supply. We are working with the City of Madison to establish measures that prohibit or restrict future activities in those zones that could contaminate groundwater.

What You Can Do!

• Safely dispose of old paint, household chemicals, pharmaceuticals and batteries Check out Dane County’s Clean Sweep website By clicking this link, you will be leaving the City of Madison website. for more information.
• Use road salt responsibly. Find plenty of tips on how to reduce your salt use at wisaltwise.com
• Don’t flush old medications. Take unused prescriptions and old pill bottles to your nearest MedDrop.
• Use just what you need. Conserve and invest in water-efficient appliances. We’ll even give you $100 if you buy an efficient toilet!
• If an unused private well is on your property, have it safely abandoned under guidelines set by the DNR. Many private wells were dug so long ago, they’ve been forgotten about.
• Thinking about the future and our aquifer is something you must help with as a citizen of the community. Let’s love our aquifer like we love our lakes. Help ensure that a safe, reliable water supply is here for generations of Madisonians to come. Head to our indoor and outdoor conservation pages on the Madison Water Utility websitefor more tips on sustainable water use.

Remember About Sustainability

• Track your water usage online
• Toilet Rebate For Madison Residents
• Conservation Tips
• The Water House Project
• Infrastructure Overhaul
• Protecting Our Groundwater
• Home Water Conservation Program
• Wellhead Protection Program
• Project H2O Metering System
• Road salt and Madison’s drinking water
• Check your homes and business plumbing fixtures, pipes, and tubs, faucets, and showers
• Remodel and purchases approved fixtures that are WaterSense approved.

Action Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning and Electric, Inc. invites you to keep our number handy; in Sun Prairie, WI: (608) 837-3638. So when you find yourself in need, you can reach out to us quickly, efficiently, and we will be there when you need us.

Making sure you are saving dollars on your water bill and doing your part for the environment has never been so easy. Call us right now, and let’s get start discussions about those replacement toilets today. Proudly Serving Dane County! For your convenience we proudly serve these nearby communities Madison, Middleton, Sun Prairie, Verona, Monona, Cottage Grove, De Forest, Fitchburg, Waunakee, Oregon, Mt. Horeb, Marshall, Windsor. Call the ActionMan and his team today!

If you need some Action now, you can click here to schedule service online now!