Northwest Wisconsin Groundwater Monitoring Project
Researcher Kelsey Prihoda will share results from the Northwest Wisconsin Groundwater Monitoring Project at a public presentation on Wednesday, October 30 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mercer Public Library and Community Center. The 18-month groundwater monitoring study was conducted by the Lake Superior Research Institute (LSRI) at University of Wisconsin-Superior.
The LSRI project was made possible by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and tested groundwater in eleven northwest Wisconsin counties for naturally occurring fluoride and other selected metals. The Mercer Public Library distributed groundwater sampling kits for the project, and several Mercer-area residents participated in the study. Researchers expect that the study will help raise awareness of the importance of well water testing and help local residents understand the naturally occurring elements in their groundwater.
Prihoda will present a summary of the project’s methods, information about the parameters monitored, and concentrations of naturally occurring fluoride and selected metals measured in volunteer-collected samples. She will discuss results from all eleven Wisconsin counties in the study, with an emphasis on results from samples collected in Iron County. The presentation will summarize the characteristics of wells within the study, especially Iron County, including well type, depth, and groundwater treatment. Prihoda will also share recommendations for private well water testing and local resources.
Prihoda and water resources educator Steven Gebhard will also present a hands-on “Groundwater Detective” activity for students at Mercer School during their visit.
The presentation at 11:00 a.m. is free and open to the public, and all are welcome. The Mercer Public Library and Community Center is located at 2648W Margaret Street, Mercer, Wisconsin. For more information about the program, call the Mercer Library at 715-476-2366.
Contact: Teresa Schmidt, Director – Mercer Public Library, (715)476-2366, director@mercerpubliclibrary.org
Project Contact: Kelsey Prihoda, Researcher, Lake Superior Research Institute – University of Wisconsin-Superior, (715)394-8422, kprihoda@uwsuper.edu