The Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council released its 2026 annual report to the state legislature with recommendations for protecting groundwater resources facing contamination and water stress challenges.
The council's key recommendations address the most prevalent issues in Wisconsin, including PFAS contamination, nitrate contamination, pesticide contamination, and water-stressed areas that affect communities, economic activity and water resources. Additional recommendations also address other contaminations found in groundwater.
The council said Wisconsin's dependence on groundwater requires coordinated investment and a collaborative approach involving state legislators and other partners to develop effective long-term solutions.
The report is available on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Groundwater Coordinating Council website.
The GCC consists of high-level administrators of state agencies with responsibility for groundwater management plus a governor's representative. It serves to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of groundwater management entities and advises on collaboration among state agencies, academic institutions and other organizations in coordinating groundwater programs, fostering information sharing related to groundwater, managing groundwater monitoring and data, and public education, according to the department.