As stated on cleanwisconsin.org "Around two-thirds of Wisconsin’s residents rely on groundwater for their drinking water. And one-quarter of Wisconsinites rely on private drinking water wells to reach that groundwater. These private drinking water wells are extremely common in rural Wisconsin. Unfortunately, this means those water wells are often right next to agricultural activities that can pollute groundwater. The tremendous amounts of cow manure produced at massive dairy farms known as “CAFOs” (concentrated animal feeding operation) carry nitrates and dangerous bacteria. After this manure is spread on fields, nitrates and bacteria can find their way into the groundwater that residents in the area use for their drinking water. In parts of Wisconsin with a particular geology known as Karst Bedrock" (such is present in Pierce County) "this risk is amplified, because the ground underneath the fields where manure is spread is filled with fractures and other features that allow water to flow extremely quickly from the surface to the aquifers below. This means that it can take little time for nitrates and bacteria from manure to end up in the water coming out of a neighbor’s tap. In other parts of the state, layers. of earth can slow down or absorb some of these contaminants."  (Source: cleanwisconsin.org).

Additionally, cleanwisconsin.org states "The health impacts caused by contamination of private wells with manure runoff are significant, and potentially tragic. Bacteria from manure, like e. Coli, can cause severe gastrointestinal illnesses. High levels of nitrates in drinking water can cause serious problems for infants and pregnant women. “Blue baby syndrome” is a potentially fatal condition affecting infants, typically younger than six months old, that consume nitrate-contaminated water. Pregnant women who drink water contaminated with nitrates are at increased risk of giving birth prematurely, to low-birth weight babies, and babies with birth defects. Nitrates are also responsible for increased risk of colon cancer and thyroid disease. The water pollution caused by manure spreading is therefore a huge public health issue." (Source: cleanwisconsin.org). 

The time to act for Pierce County residents is now. Currently, a large dairy group located in far northeast Salem Township operates a milking herd of approximately 2,000 cows.  Based on verbal discussions with the dairy group, they are looking over several options for modifying this operation, including significant expansion of the herd (possibly to 5,000 – 6,000 milking cows), addition of a methane digester, and a significantly larger waste-storage facility, making it one-of-the-largest, if not-the-largest, CAFO operations ever in all of Pierce County.  This is an evolving situation; nothing has officially been communicated from the dairy group. While nothing is on paper at this time, the dairy group is actively evaluating their options for this newly purchased operation.  There could be significant impacts on Pierce County land, water, and air quality, especially in rural Salem township, and the immediately adjacent townships of Union, Rock Elm and El Paso.  Changes could also impact land valuations, our family farms, our families, and the rural Americana life currently enjoyed by the residents of Pierce County.