09/20/2019   Sand Creek Consultants Technical Memorandum Received
08/07/2019    "Looks like we reported 3.66 ug/L using our DACT screening process and the DATCP lab reported 1.03 ug/L , with 1.7 ug/L total atrazine residues. Our analytical process is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for $33, and the DATCP lab uses a very extensive process similar to our pharmaceutical process (solid phase extraction/liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry). I’m sure DATCP would charge several hundred dollars for this process if they were to offer this commercially. Our DACT analysis is billed as a low-cost screening tool and not a process that provides absolute concentration. The process is subject to interferences from particulates in the sample (typically not a problem with private wells) and more importantly from other compounds in the sample. Some of the other atrazine degradates, like deisopropyl and de-ethyl atrazine may react at a differing rate than DACT. That may confound quantification of the DACT. Other triazine herbicides may also react with this ELISA process, however the DATCP lab did not detect other triazine herbicides in this sample. Probably the larger factor in this discrepancy is the fact that these samples were collected approximately 6 months apart. Spring snow melt and rains may have provided dilution or a change in the water table elevation. The change in water table elevation will change the concentration of any contaminant. Since this area is already in an atrazine prohibition area, and there is going to be variability in concentration, I would recommend some type of carbon filter at the household’s point of use." ~ Bill DeVita, Lab Manager of the Water and Environmental Analysis Laboratory, Center for Watershed Science and Education, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
08/06/2019   Kramer DATCP Results Received
07/07/2019   July 2019 Nitrate Sampling Results
06/11/2019   Sand Creek Consultants Agreement
05/09/2019   Portage County Final Report - Date set by county according to their schedules.
05/09/2019 Testing results shared with public with analytical input from water experts. Analysis approved by Mark Borchardt, Ph.D. Research Microbiologist for the Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, USDA – Agricultural Research Service
04/09/2019    DNR requested updated information with test results. Sent that day.
03/27/2019   Portage County Nitrate Source Testing done in January Results Round 2 received
02/07/2019    "I don’t know enough about Nelsonville’s soil or hydrogeology to put forward a hypothesis as to why the results were all negative. Unlike the Kewaunee County study, our testing was a one-off without any context or overarching study design. To link a specific source with a contaminated well generally takes a comprehensive site investigation instead of a single sample. If the farmer didn’t spread manure on the suspected fields this past fall, that would definitely affect our results. In general, (although it varies by microbe type) the microbial signal from manure starts to disappear after a few months. We would not expect to see manure-related microbes from manure that was spread, say, a year ago. Feel free to give me a call if you have any more questions. It might be worthwhile to sample again this spring." ~ Mark Borchardt, Ph.D. Research Microbiologist for the Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment, USDA – Agricultural Research Service
02/04/2019    Results received from Laboratory for Infectious Disease and the Environment(LIDE). Shared with farm via text message.
01/22/2019 Shared round 1 results with the DNR
We shared the detailed results with the DNR on the 22nd but respected the county's desire to not publicize the detailed results as of yet. We received the USDA results on February 4th. The results were reported at the February Groundwater Protection meeting. We just got the source test results on March 27th. The county is going to provide context and analysis.
01/17/2019    Portage County Nitrate Testing Results Round 1 - Sample Dates 11/5/18 - 11/8/18
   01/17/2019 "I would also just caution your use of this data. It can be powerful and can be construed in many different ways without some sort of explanation. You sending it the DNR would be acceptable. The second round of data will possibly help to explain what we have seen in the first round and what that means going forward." ~ Jen McNelly, Portage County Planning and Zoning Department
01/03/2019     Received summary data from county. Released to public same day.
   01/02/2019 "My understanding is that lab finds it easier to compile all the results from both rounds of testing before releasing the batch of data." ~ Gary Garske, Portage County Health and Human Services
   01/03/2019 "Yes, it is alright to share, but I would also caution being careful with the information. You will need to be clear that this is just the first round of testing and that more is coming that will hopefully help to provide additional information. In addition, I am looking at spatial distribution of the results and the results in relation to pumping depth, etc. Hopefully this will help us to have a better understanding of the data. We will write a final report after all of the data has been collected and analyzed." ~ Jen McNelly, Portage County Planning and Zoning Department 11/5/2018    Portage County Nitrate Sample Collections from 11/5/18 - 11/8/18
10/24/2018    LIDE samples collected
10/05/2018    County letter to Nelsonville residents about testing.
06/09/2018    DNR Public Hearing on WPDES permit
05/15/2018    Village Town Hall Meeting on groundwater quality

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