By Blake Jackson
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is celebrating National Drinking Water Week, May 4–10, 2025, by raising awareness about the importance of clean drinking water and the professionals who make it possible.
This national week, established in 1988, honours the efforts of water system operators, researchers, engineers, and advocates. These unsung heroes work every day to ensure that families, farms, and businesses have safe water at the tap.
The DNR also marks the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act, a cornerstone of U.S. water regulation. The Act has helped improve access to safe water through science-backed monitoring and enforcement.
Wisconsin continues to take a leading role. The state supports groundwater protection, has replaced lead service lines since 2000, and joined the EPA’s Lead Service Line Replacement Accelerator in 2023. Efforts are also underway to study and reduce PFAS contamination and to support farmers in managing nitrate runoff.
In 2025, the DNR resumed accepting well grant applications. These grants support private well owners in treating or replacing wells affected by PFAS, nitrate, and other pollutants.
Residents are encouraged to act by testing private wells annually, conserving water, and supporting infrastructure upgrades. Education and community action are key to long-term water sustainability.
“The goal is to sustainably manage the quantity and quality of water in the state to ensure that water is available to be used to protect and improve our health, economy and environment now and in the future,” the DNR shared.
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Categories: Wisconsin, Business