AB 686

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to administer a

program to provide grants to cities, villages, towns, and counties for the testing of

privately owned wells. The bill also makes changes to the well compensation grant

program currently administered by DNR.

Under current law, an individual owner or renter of a contaminated private well

may apply for a grant from DNR to cover a portion of the costs to treat the water,

reconstruct the well, construct a new well, connect to a public water supply, or fill and

seal the well. To be eligible for a grant the well owner or renter's annual family

income may not exceed $65,000. A grant awarded under the program may not exceed

75 percent of a project's eligible costs and may not cover any part of a project's eligible

costs that exceeds $12,000. In addition, if the well owner or renter's annual family

income exceeds $45,000, the amount of the award is reduced by 30 percent of the

amount by which the annual family income exceeds $45,000.

The bill increases the family income limit to $100,000 and increases the grant

award limit to 75 percent of no more than $16,000 of the project's eligible costs. The

bill also increases the amount of annual family income that triggers a reduction of

an award to $65,000.

Under current law, a well that is contaminated only by nitrates is eligible for

a grant only if the well is a water supply for livestock, is used at least three months

in each year, and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million. The bill

eliminates the requirement that the well be used for livestock.