Winchester Academy hosts UW researcher
Kevin Masarik will speak about Wisconsin’s groundwater quality at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, at the Waupaca Area Public Library.
Hosted by Winchester Academy, the program is free and open to the public.
Nearly three out of four Wisconsinites rely on groundwater as their primary water supply.
Municipal water supplies are regularly monitored and have an obligation to meet drinking water standards. Private well owners must act as their own water utility manager when it comes to day-to-day decisions about their household wells.
Both community leaders and rural landowners have a need for accessible groundwater quality information if they are expected to effectively manage their water supply.
Using data collected from over 30 years of well water testing, Masarik’s presentation will provide an overview of common water quality concerns in Wisconsin.
He will explore the complex relationship between land-use, geology, soils, and groundwater quality concerns such as nitrate, bacteria, arsenic and hardness.
Masarik will use statewide and local examples to discuss reasons for variability in groundwater quality.
For those who have ever wondered what makes water hard, what causes those stains on plumbing fixtures, or how particular land uses affect groundwater, this presentation will be of interest. Those in attendance will walk away with a better understanding of where their drinking water comes from, as well as current and future groundwater quality challenges.
Masarik is a groundwater education specialist with the UW-Extension and UW-Stevens Point. He received his bachelor’s degree in water resources from UW-Stevens Point and his master’s degree in soil science from UW-Madison.
For the past 13 years he has assisted tens of thousands of well owners in testing their water through local programs.
Winchester Academy’s programs are funded through sponsors and tax-deductible donations.
Mazarik’s program is sponsored by the Waupaca County Association for Home and Community Education and complements the Great Lakes: Small Streams exhibit currently on display at the Waupaca Area Public Library.
For more information about Winchester Academy, check winchesteracademywaupaca.org, follow on Facebook or contact Executive Director Ann Buerger Linden at 715-258-2927 or [email protected].