NR 151 RULE CHANGES In late 2019, the DNR was approved to open up the administrative rule, NR 151 to include a targeted performance standard addressing nitrate contamination in groundwater. Over the last year, DNR and their Technical Advisory Committee of assembled experts and stakeholders (including three county representatives) drafted a rule aimed at reducing nitrate leaching from agricultural fields in targeted areas.
Why do we need a new rule? Nitrate is needed to grow crops and applied to fields through commercial fertilizer and manure across Wisconsin. When rain is heavy and soils are sandy, the plants can miss the opportunity to grab the needed nutrient and seep straight to groundwater. Because nitrogen is readily available, it has long made sense to apply more fertilizer to ensure plants get what they need. Unfortunately, this also makes nitrate
the most widespread drinking water contaminant. Wisconsin communities have struggled to address elevating nitrate levels in both private and public wells in particularly susceptible areas due to high nitrate linked to birth defects, blue baby syndrome, thyroid disease, and certain types of cancer. The purpose of this rule is to help reduce nitrate contamination to meet the federal drinking water and state groundwater standards of 10mg/l by creating targeted agricultural performances standards and prohibitions in most vulnerable areas of the state.
Who is affected by the draft rule? The fields that are included in the targeted area are: 1. On Nitrogen Restricted Soils, as defined in NRCS 590 standard. Soils that are permeable, close to bedrock, wet or close to the water table are more likely to allow nitrate to seep past plant roots and reach groundwater. Restricted soils also include areas within 1,000 feet of a community well. 2. In DNR identified sensitive areas based on groundwater nitrate data. The list of areas is included in the rule and can be found in the mapping viewer. No new areas will be added or removed from the list without another revision of the rule. 3. In municipal wellhead protection areas (land around a well known to be contributing most of the water) with nitrate concentrations meeting or exceeding 5mg/l. This allows communities time to ensure they can deliver clean, safe drinking water to residents.
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Explore the map of the affected area here.
