Chapter 281

281.75(5)(e) (e) The department shall consolidate claims if more than one claimant submits a claim for the same private water supply or for the same well subject to abandonment.

281.75(5)(f) (f) The department shall allocate money for the payment of claims according to the order in which completed claims are received. The department may conditionally approve a completed claim even if the appropriation under s. 20.370 (6) (cr) is insufficient to pay the claim. The department shall allocate money for the payment of a claim which is conditionally approved as soon as funds become available.

281.75(6) (6) Determining contamination.

281.75(6)(a) (a) Contamination of a private water supply, as defined under sub. (1) (b) 1. or 2., is required to be established by analysis of at least 2 samples of water, taken at least 2 weeks apart, in a manner which assures the validity of the test results. The samples shall be tested by a laboratory certified under s. 299.11.

281.75(6)(b) (b) The department may reject test results which are not sufficiently recent.

281.75(6)(c) (c) The department, at its own expense, may test additional samples from any private water supply for which a claim is submitted.

281.75(7) (7) Purpose and amount of award.

281.75(7)(a) (a) If the department finds that the claimant meets all the requirements of this section and rules promulgated under this section and that the private water supply is contaminated or that the well is a well subject to abandonment, the department shall issue an award. The award may not pay more than 75 percent of the eligible costs. The award may not pay any portion of eligible costs in excess of $16,000.

281.75(7)(b) (b) If the annual family income of the claimant exceeds $45,000, the amount of the award is the amount determined under par. (a) less 30 percent of the amount by which the claimant’s income exceeds $45,000.

281.75(7)(c) (c) Eligible costs under this subsection include the following items only:

281.75(7)(c)1. 1. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the cost of obtaining an alternate water supply;

281.75(7)(c)2. 2. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the cost of any one of the following:

281.75(7)(c)2.a. a. Equipment used for treating the water;

281.75(7)(c)2.b. b. Reconstructing the private water supply;

281.75(7)(c)2.c. c. Constructing a new private water supply;

281.75(7)(c)2.d. d. Providing for a public water supply to replace the private water supply including costs related to connection to the public water supply and costs related to special assessments and one-time municipal charges for capital improvements and services involved in providing the public water supply; or

281.75(7)(c)2.e. e. Providing a connection to an existing private water supply;

281.75(7)(c)3. 3. The cost of abandoning a contaminated private water supply, if a new private water supply is constructed, if connection to a public or private water supply is provided, or if the claim is based on a well subject to abandonment;

281.75(7)(c)4. 4. The cost of obtaining 2 tests to show that the private water supply was contaminated if the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply and the cost of those tests was originally paid by the claimant;

281.75(7)(c)5. 5. The cost of purchasing and installing a pump, if the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply and a new pump is necessary for the new or reconstructed private water supply; and

281.75(7)(c)6. 6. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the cost of relocating pipes, as necessary, to connect the replacement water supply to the buildings served by it.

281.75(7)(c)7. 7. If the claim is based on a contaminated water supply that is eligible under sub. (11) (ae), the cost of properly abandoning any improperly abandoned private water supply located on the property owned or leased by the claimant.

281.75(8) (8) Copayment. The department shall require a copayment of $250 unless the claim is solely for well abandonment.

281.75(9) (9) Contamination standard; nitrates.

281.75(9)(a) (a) This subsection applies to a private water supply which:

281.75(9)(a)1. 1. Is a livestock water supply or is a residential water supply which is used as a source of potable water for livestock as well as for a residence; and

281.75(9)(a)2. 2. Is used at least 3 months each year and while in use provides an estimated average of more than 100 gallons per day for consumption by livestock.

281.75(9)(b) (b) Notwithstanding the requirement of contamination under sub. (7), if a private water supply meets the criteria under par. (a) and the claim is based upon contamination by nitrates and not by any other substance, the department may make an award only if the private water supply produces water containing nitrates in excess of 40 parts per million expressed as nitrate-nitrogen.

281.75(10) (10) Issuance of award.

281.75(10)(a) (a) The department shall issue awards without regard to fault.

281.75(10)(b) (b) Contributory negligence is not a bar to recovery and no award may be diminished as the result of negligence attributable to the claimant or to any person who is entitled to submit a claim.

281.75(10)(c) (c) The department shall pay each claim within 30 days after a completed payment request is submitted. The department shall pay eligible costs under sub. (7) based upon cost tables and rules promulgated under sub. (11) (c).

281.75(11) (11) Denial of claim; limits on awards.

281.75(11)(a) (a) Denial of claim. The department shall deny a claim if:

281.75(11)(a)1. 1. The claim is not within the scope of this section.

281.75(11)(a)2. 2. The claimant submits a fraudulent claim.

281.75(11)(a)3. 3. The claim is for reimbursement of costs incurred before the department determined that the claim was complete under sub. (5) (c).

281.75(11)(a)4. 4. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, one or more of the contaminants upon which the claim is based was introduced into the well through the plumbing connected to the well.

281.75(11)(a)5. 5. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, one or more of the contaminants upon which the claim is based was introduced into the well intentionally by a claimant or a person who would be directly benefited by payment of the claim.

281.75(11)(a)6. 6. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, all of the contaminants upon which the claim is based are naturally occurring substances and the concentration of the contaminants in water produced by the well does not significantly exceed the background concentration of the contaminants in groundwater at that location.

281.75(11)(a)7. 7. Except as provided in sub. (14), an award has been made under this section within the previous 10 years for the parcel of land where the private water supply is located and the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply.

281.75(11)(a)8. 8. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the contaminated private water supply is a residential water supply, is contaminated by bacteria or nitrates or both, and is not contaminated by any other substance, except as provided in par. (ae).

281.75(11)(a)9. 9. If the claim is based on a contaminated private water supply, the contaminated private water supply is a livestock water supply, is contaminated by bacteria, and is not contaminated by any other substance.

281.75(11)(a)10. 10. The amount of the award determined under sub. (7) would be less than $100.

281.75(11)(ae) (ae) Bacterial contamination. Paragraph (a) 8. does not apply to a residential well that is contaminated by bacteria and is in an area of special eligibility for compensation for well contamination as declared by the department under sub. (2) (e).

281.75(11)(am) (am) Emergency. Notwithstanding par. (a) 3., the department may authorize expenditures before a claim is submitted if the department determines that an emergency situation exists. The department shall establish standards and procedures for the payment of claims in emergency situations.

281.75(11)(b) (b) Limits on awards for contaminated wells; purposes.

281.75(11)(b)1. 1. An award may be issued for purchasing and installing a pump if a pump is necessary for the new or reconstructed private water supply.

281.75(11)(b)2. 2. An award may be issued for water treatment only if the contamination cannot be remedied by reconstruction or replacement of the private water supply, or connection to another water supply is not feasible.

281.75(11)(b)3. 3. An award may not be issued for the replacement of a sand point well with a drilled well unless:

281.75(11)(b)3.a. a. The department determines that replacement with another sand point well is not feasible; and

281.75(11)(b)3.b. b. The department determines that the person had no knowledge or reason to believe the sand point well would become contaminated at the time it was constructed.

281.75(11)(b)4. 4. An award may not be issued for the reimbursement of costs of an alternative water supply incurred before the department confirmed that contamination existed.

281.75(11)(c) (c) Limits on awards; costs determined by rule. The department shall determine by rule the usual and customary costs of each item for which an award may be issued under sub. (7). The rule shall reflect the range of costs resulting from differences in costs of construction, labor, equipment and supplies throughout the state, various soil and bedrock conditions, sizes and depths of wells, types of well construction and other factors which may affect the costs. The department shall determine the amount of all awards according to the rules promulgated under this paragraph.

281.75(11)(d) (d) Limits on awards for contaminated wells; amount. Awards shall be issued subject to the following limitations on amount:

281.75(11)(d)1. 1. If the contamination can be remedied by reconstruction of the private water supply, construction of a new private water supply or connection to an existing public or private water supply, the department shall issue an award for the least expensive means of remedying the contamination.

281.75(11)(d)2. 2. If the contamination cannot be remedied by a new or reconstructed private water supply, the maximum award for connection to an existing public or private water supply is 150 percent of the cost of constructing a new private water supply.

281.75(11)(d)3. 3. An award for an alternate water supply is limited to the amount necessary to obtain water for a one-year period, except as provided under sub. (13).

281.75(11m) (11m) Abandonment of certain private water supplies. If the department determines that there is an improperly abandoned private water supply located on property owned or leased by a claimant with a contaminated private water supply that is eligible under sub. (11) (ae), the department may issue an award only if the claimant properly abandons the improperly abandoned private water supply.

281.75(12) (12) Reconstruction or replacement of wells. If the department determines that the claimant is entitled to compensation for reconstruction of a private water supply or construction of a new private water supply, the department may issue the award only if all of the following conditions are satisfied:

281.75(12)(a) (a) The well complies with casing depth and other construction requirements established by the department.

281.75(12)(b) (b) If the well is a drilled well, it is constructed by a well driller licensed under ch. 280 or, if the well is a sandpoint well, it is constructed by a well driller or pump installer licensed under ch. 280.

281.75(13) (13) Coordination of compensation and remedial action. If the secretary determines that the implementation of a response to groundwater contamination by a regulatory agency under s. 160.25 can be expected to remedy the contamination in a private water supply in 2 years or less, the secretary may order a delay in the issuance of an award for up to a 2-year period. If the secretary issues an order under this subsection, the department shall issue an award for an alternate water supply while the order is in effect or until the well is no longer contaminated, whichever is earlier. If, upon expiration of the order, the department determines that the private water supply is not contaminated, the department may not issue an award under this section.

281.75(14) (14) New claims.

281.75(14)(a) (a) New contamination. A claimant who receives an award for the purpose of constructing or reconstructing a private water supply or connection to a private water supply may submit a new claim if the contamination is from a new source and, if the previous award was for a new or reconstructed private water supply, the well was constructed properly.

281.75(14)(b) (b) Failure to eliminate contamination.

281.75(14)(b)1. 1. A claimant who receives an award for the purpose of constructing or reconstructing a private water supply or connection to a private water supply may submit a new claim if the contamination is not eliminated and, if the award was for a new or reconstructed private water supply, the well was constructed properly.

281.75(14)(b)2. 2. Only one additional claim may be submitted under this paragraph within 10 years after an award is made.

281.75(15) (15) Tolling of statute of limitations. Any law limiting the time for commencement of an action is tolled by the filing of a claim. The law limiting the time for commencement of the action is tolled for the period from the first filing of a claim until the department issues an award under this section. If a period of limitation is tolled by the filing of a claim, and the time remaining after issuance of the final award in which an action may be commenced is less than 30 days, the period within which the action may be commenced is extended to 30 days from the date of issuance of the final award.

281.75(16) (16) Relation to other actions.

281.75(16)(a) (a) The existence of the relief under this section is not a bar to any other statutory or common law remedy.

281.75(16)(b) (b) A person is not required to exhaust the remedy available under this section before commencing an action seeking any other statutory or common law remedy.

281.75(16)(c) (c) The findings and conclusions under this section are not admissible in any civil action.

281.75(16)(d) (d) The state is subrogated to the rights of a claimant who obtains an award under this section in an amount equal to the award. All moneys recovered under this paragraph shall be credited to the environmental fund for environmental management.

281.75(17) (17) Applicability.

281.75(17)(a) (a) A claim based on a contaminated private water supply may be submitted irrespective of the time when the contamination is or could have been discovered in the private water supply. A claim may be submitted for contamination which commenced before May 11, 1984, and continues at the time a claim is submitted under this section.

281.75(17)(b) (b) This section does not apply to contamination which is compensable under subch. II of ch. 107 or s. 293.65 (4) or 295.61 (8).

281.75(18) (18) Suspension or revocation of licenses. The department may suspend or revoke a license issued under ch. 280 if the department finds that the licensee falsified information submitted under this section. The department of safety and professional services may suspend or revoke the license of a plumber licensed under ch. 145 if the department of safety and professional services finds that the plumber falsified information submitted under this section.

281.75(19) (19) Penalties. Whoever does any of the following shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and shall be required to repay an award issued to that person under this section:

281.75(19)(a) (a) Causes or exacerbates the contamination of a private water supply for the purpose of submitting a claim under this section; or

281.75(19)(b) (b) Submits a fraudulent claim under this section.

281.75 History History: 1983 a. 410; 1985 a. 22, 29; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 413; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4208 to 4210, 9116 (5); 1995 a. 227 s. 401; Stats. 1995 s. 281.75; 1997 a. 27; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 123, 335; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 7, 10, 32; 2013 a. 1; 2017 a. 69; 2021 a. 240.

281.75 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 123, Wis. adm. code.

281.77 281.77 Damage to water supplies.

281.77(1) (1) In this section:

281.77(1)(a) (a) “Private water supply” means a well that is used as a water supply for humans or a well that is constructed by drilling and is used as a water supply for livestock, as defined in s. 95.80 (1) (b), or poultry.

281.77(1)(b) (b) “Regulated activity” means an activity for which the department may issue an order under chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, if the activity is conducted in violation of chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter or in violation of licenses, permits or special orders issued or rules promulgated under chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter.

281.77(2) (2) 

281.77(2)(a) (a) Except as provided under par. (b), if the department finds that a regulated activity has caused a private water supply to become contaminated, polluted or unfit for consumption by humans, livestock or poultry, the department may conduct a hearing on the matter. The department shall conduct a hearing on the matter upon request of the owner or operator of the regulated activity. At the close of the hearing, or at any time if no hearing is held, the department may order the owner or operator of the regulated activity to treat the water to render it fit for consumption by humans, livestock and poultry, repair the private water supply or replace the private water supply and to reimburse the town, village or city for the cost of providing water under sub. (4).