Bronte Wells
Kewaunee County in Wisconsin has become the poster child for water quality concerns in the state. The county is home to about 20,000 people and has a high concentration of large-scale dairy farms, known as CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations). These farms have been linked to water contamination in the county, with bacteria and viruses, as well as high levels of nutrients such as phosphorus, being detected in water sources. In addition, there have been concerns over the use of manure digesters, which are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but may be contributing to water pollution and encouraging farm expansion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 20,563 |
| County seat | Kewaunee |
| Waters impaired by pollution | Ahnapee River, Black Creek, Casco Creek, East Alaska Lake, East Twin River, Green Bay, Jambo Creek, Kewaunee River, Krok Creek, Lake Michigan, Neshota River, Red River, School Creek, Silver Creek, and Stony Creek |
| Contaminants | E. coli, mercury, PCBs, phosphorus, sediment levels, high levels of suspended solids, nitrates, bacteria, methane emissions |
| Manure spills | 76 between 2010 and 2018 |
| CAFOs | 15-16 |
| Cows | Outnumber people 5 to 1 |
| Water contamination sources | Animal waste, urban runoff |
| Water contamination factors | Thin soils, fractured bedrock, tile drainage |
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What You'll Learn
Manure digesters
Kewaunee County in Wisconsin has been dubbed the "poster child for water quality concerns" in the state. The county's waters have been found to be impaired by pollution, with high levels of E. coli, mercury, PCBs, phosphorus, sediment, and suspended solids. There have also been concerns about well water contamination, with some areas more susceptible due to thin soils and fractured bedrock.
There are differing opinions on the effectiveness of manure digesters in Kewaunee County. Some environmental groups claim that manure digesters contribute to pollution by encouraging farm expansion. They argue that the increased herd sizes associated with digester use lead to more air and water pollution, as well as higher methane emissions from cows. However, supporters of digester technology counter that it helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provides a source of renewable energy. They also argue that improved manure handling practices can reduce the risk of water contamination.
While manure digesters have advantages, there are also challenges to their implementation. The availability of equipment, construction and startup costs, and the need for proper maintenance to prevent equipment failure can be barriers for farmers considering anaerobic digestion systems.
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Water contamination
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, has become the poster child for water quality concerns in its home state. The county is considered both a high-farming concentration county and a high-manufacturing county, with at least 20% of its earnings coming from agriculture and at least 25% from manufacturing.
The county's thin soils and fractured bedrock also make it more susceptible to groundwater contamination. This allows contaminants to more easily seep into the groundwater, which is the primary source of drinking water for most residents. As a result, more than one-third of wells in Kewaunee County have been found to be unsafe for drinking water due to the presence of contaminants such as nitrates, coliform bacteria, and fecal microbes.
In response to these issues, environmental groups and residents have called for stricter regulations and better manure handling practices to reduce the risk of water contamination. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has also taken steps to address the issue, forming work groups to develop recommendations for reducing groundwater contamination and approving research projects to study the extent and sources of contamination.
While manure digesters have been proposed as a solution to reduce pollution, their effectiveness is debated. Some argue that they encourage farm expansion and contribute to increased water pollution, while others claim they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide renewable energy.
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Bacterial pollution
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, has become the poster child for water quality concerns in the state. The county is considered both a high-farming concentration county and a high-manufacturing county, with at least 20% of its earnings coming from agriculture and at least 25% from manufacturing.
The county has seen a rapid growth of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). In 2017, research found that 60% of wells sampled showed signs of waste from both cows and people. Kewaunee County residents have called upon the DNR and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide emergency water supplies for those whose wells have been compromised.
The region is susceptible to bacterial pollution from manure runoff due to thin soils and fractured bedrock, which allow contamination to seep into groundwater. There were 76 state-documented manure spills in the county between 2010 and 2018. The distribution of bacterial contamination in private wells has been mapped, and some bacteria found in surface water have genes for antibiotic resistance, thought to be due to the bovine use of antibiotics.
The county has also become central to a debate over how to regulate manure irrigation, a process in which farms spray liquefied animal waste to fertilize fields. A state-commissioned report issued in April 2020 did not yield consensus on the issue.
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Manure irrigation
Kewaunee County in Wisconsin has a population of around 20,000 people and is considered a high-farming concentration county. It has become the poster child for water quality concerns in Wisconsin, with a 2017 study finding that 60% of wells sampled showed signs of waste from both cows and people. The county has also experienced 76 state-documented manure spills between 2010 and 2018, and concerns over bacterial and nitrate contamination in drinking water.
The use of manure digesters in the region has sparked debate, with some arguing that they contribute to pollution by encouraging farm expansion. Kewaunee County is susceptible to pollution from manure runoff due to thin soils and fractured bedrock, which allow contamination to seep into groundwater. This has led to discussions over how to regulate manure irrigation, a process where farms spray liquefied animal waste to fertilize fields.
Supporters of manure digesters, however, claim that they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide renewable energy. Digesters manage organic waste using a process where microorganisms break down materials to produce biogas, which can be used as renewable natural gas. Some farmers in the county have also used leftover material from digesters as fertilizer.
Efforts to address the issue include the formation of the Groundwater Collaboration Workgroup by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which provided recommendations for aiding residents with contaminated drinking water and minimizing the impacts of manure irrigation. The group's final report, completed in June 2016, identified the need for further evaluation and review of existing enforcement processes and better compliance with county-regulated programs.
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Groundwater contamination
Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, has a population of about 20,000 people and is considered a high-farming concentration county, with cows outnumbering people 5 to 1. The county has become the poster child for water quality concerns in Wisconsin, with a high count of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) within its 343 square miles.
The use of manure digesters, which manage organic waste using microorganisms to produce biogas, has been a subject of debate. While supporters argue that they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide renewable energy, critics claim that they contribute to water pollution by encouraging farm expansion and larger herd sizes, resulting in increased manure production.
The county's reliance on groundwater sources for drinking water, combined with the high number of CAFOs and vulnerable geologic formations, makes Kewaunee County particularly susceptible to groundwater contamination. Efforts are being made to address this issue, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) working with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination and improve manure handling practices.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin, has become the poster child for water quality concerns in the state.
The pollution is largely attributed to agricultural practices, specifically the use of manure as fertiliser. Kewaunee County has a high number of large-scale dairy farms, known as CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations), and the amount of manure produced exceeds the waste generated by the human population of Milwaukee.
Manure can contaminate water sources through runoff and seepage into groundwater. Kewaunee County is particularly susceptible to this due to its thin soils and fractured bedrock. Manure is also spread on fields near waterways and before rain, increasing the risk of pollution.
Environmental groups have petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to investigate water contamination in the county. The EPA is working with the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) to address groundwater issues and reduce the risk of contamination. Researchers are also studying the extent and sources of groundwater contamination to inform better regulations and practices.
