Nitrate Contamination in West-Central Wisconsin with Emphasis on Mill Run First Edition Subdivision

Introduction: Previous state and county laboratory analyses for nitrate-nitrogen for private wells in the Town of Union, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin (Sections 3, 4, 9, and 10, T27N, R10W) have indicated nitrate-nitrogen levels in excess of the drinking water standard of 10.0 mg/l (Lulloff, Paul, Tinker, and Degen, 1985). To determine the cause of the high nitrates, a nitrate mass balance model was applied to the Mill Run First Edition subdivision in NW 1/4, Section 10, T27N, R10W. The methods of study include the sampling of private wells, the development of a ground-water flow map, the application of a nitrate mass balance model, and an earth-resistivity survey.