TLSD receives $10,000 grant

The Three Lakes School District has received a $10,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to support clean drinking water at Sugar Camp Elementary School. The funds are part of the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities program, which helps small communities address emerging contaminants, particularly PFAS and manganese, district officials explained in a press release.

“In late December 2023, a routine water test at Sugar Camp Elementary revealed high manganese levels, which were due to issues with the water softener system,” the release states. “The equipment was replaced, and drinking water samples returned to acceptable levels soon after. During this event, the drinking water fountains were closed, parents and guardians were informed, and students were supplied with bottled drinking water. 

“Since then, manganese levels have remained normal,” the release continued. The district has never had positive PFAS results. After the December 2023 event, the district applied for the Wisconsin DNR grant. The $10,000 grant, which was recently announced, reimburses the district for water softener repairs made in January 2024.”

“We value the relationship we have established with the DNR,” said Three Lakes District Administrator Teri Maney. “We are very appreciative of the opportunity this grant provides, and we will continue to update our well system through these funds.”

“Well water at Sugar Camp Elementary is tested every three months, which is routine for public well systems,” the release explained. “When a test shows questionable results, water fountains are immediately closed, students are provided with bottled water, the district communicates with the DNR, and drinking water is retested.”  

Earlier this month, Sugar Camp Elementary received a false positive for coliform bacteria, the release said. Fortunately, the water was retested and was negative. 

Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities Grant Program opened in January 2024 for its first grant cycle and reached non-government residential (other-than-municipal community) public water systems, such as apartment complexes, subdivisions, mobile home parks, and nonprofit non-residential (non-transient non-community) public water systems, such as schools, day care centers, and businesses, which historically were ineligible to receive financial assistance through the DNR, Gov. Evers office explained in a press release.

The grant program provides funds for other-than-municipal community and nonprofit non-transient non-community water systems to address PFAS or manganese contamination by drilling new wells, connecting to existing public water systems, or installing treatment to receive a safer water supply. 

The first application cycle closed July 31, 2024. To date, the DNR has awarded nearly $460,000 for the first cycle and is expecting to award a total of over $2.3 million once all applications are processed. 

“We received a positive turnout for the first cycle of this program and are excited to offer a second cycle to get funding out the door to systems who need it,” said DNR Public Water Supply Section Manager Adam DeWeese.

The second grant cycle for the grant program opens Oct. 1. Other-than-municipal community and nonprofit non-transient non-community public water systems with eligible levels of PFAS or manganese may apply to the program.

The DNR expects to issue $5 million in grants to small public water systems in the second grant cycle, the release states. 

The application period closes June 30, 2025. Interested applicants may email questions to [email protected].