Help Coming for Well & Septic Replacement
FULL SENATE TO VOTE ON MEASURE IN SEPTEMBER
October 27, 2017
By Wisconsin Lakes Staff
A long awaited Senate vote on a bipartisan bill that would provide financial assistance to families in need of replacing contaminated wells is now set for Nov 7. SB168, whose Assembly companion, AB226, already passed on a voice vote in that house of the Legislature, also gives communities the ability to help fund the replacement of toxic septic tanks by allowing them to provide greater financial assistance to homeowners with systems in need of replacement. With an estimated 47% of wells contaminated by one or more pollutants at levels above health standards, and costs ranging from $7,000 to $14,000 to replace wells and septic systems, this is an important piece of legislation. Many Wisconsin lake homes are served by wells and septic systems, and will benefit from this bill.
SB168 was voted unanimously out of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee in June, and was passed by the full Assembly later the same month. With bipartisan support, Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) are the chief authors of the bill. WI Lakes applauds the Senate for taking up this bill this session.
WI LAKES SUPPORTS SB168