SB 948

Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers a well

compensation grant program, under which an individual owner or renter of a

contaminated private well may apply for a grant 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. A well that is contaminated only by nitrates, and not

by any other substance, is eligible for a grant only if the well is a water supply for

livestock, is used at least three months in each year, provides more than 100 gallons

of water per day for consumption by livestock, and contains nitrates in excess of 40

parts per million.

This bill removes the requirement that a water supply contaminated only by

nitrates be used for livestock and provide more than 100 gallons of water per day in

order to be eligible for a grant under the program. Under the bill, a well that is

contaminated only by nitrates is eligible for a grant if the well is used at least three

months in each year and contains nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million.

The bill also requires DNR to report to the Joint Committee on Finance after

the end of each fiscal year on the number of applicants under the well compensation

program and the number and amount of grants provided during that fiscal year.