Recent laboratory testing by the U.S. Army has detected low levels of groundwater contaminants associated with the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant in several nearby residential drinking water wells. Of the 22 drinking water wells tested, five had chloroform, dichlorodifluoromethane and/or ethyl ether at concentrations well below health-based standards and are therefore considered safe to use.
In November, analytical results for one home on Spear Road in the Town of Merrimac detected the explosive 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) at 0.11 micrograms per liter (μg/l), exceeding the health-based standard of 0.05 μg/l. Upon laboratory validation, the homeowner was offered and provided bottled water by the U.S. Army.
The Army re-sampled the residential well on December 5 and 20, 2018 to confirm the 2,4-DNT detection. Analytical results from both samples did not detect 2,4-DNT or any of the other five isomers of DNT, the Army reported to the Wisconsin DNR. The Army said it will test this drinking water well several times in 2019 to reaffirm that DNT is not present.
During 2019, the Army intends to collect samples from additional residential wells in the following areas: Dam Heights, Gruber’s Grove Bay, Inspiration Drive, and Weigand’s Bay.
Map: Sampled Residential Wells near Badger AAP Nov 2018
Map: Sampled Residential Wells at Inspiration Drive Nov 2018
Complete Badger Groundwater Monitoring Status Update January 2019