Private Wells/Clear Water Meters
In the continued effort to ensure safe water for Village residents, we are continuing to enforce the Private Well Permit ordinance. The property owners within Kronenwetter Water Utility boundaries with a private well (both drilled wells and point wells) are REQUIRED to obtain a Private Well Operating Permit from the Kronenwetter Water Utility.
The permit is good for five (5) years. The Department of Natural Resources requires the utility customer to have the well inspected by a certified well driller or pump installer (every 10 years) and a water sample to be drawn (every 5 years) to maintain compliance.
WATER SAMPLE (REQUIRED EVERY 5 YEARS)
The water sample, which can be drawn by the resident, is taken to the Marathon County Health Lab to be tested. Once the inspection & water sample has been completed, please furnish Kronenwetter Water Utility with the inspection paperwork & sample results. The Private Well Operating Permit Renewal Form is available in the Forms Center.
UNSAFE WATER SAMPLE
Should the water sample come back unsafe, the customer must draw another sample until it tests safe in order to keep the private well. Subsequent water samples can be drawn by the customer by purchasing a water sample bottle from the Marathon County Health Lab (https://www.co.marathon.wi.us/Departments/HealthDepartment/EnvironmentalHealth/WaterTestingLab.aspx). It is recommended that after three unsafe samples, the well be abandoned.
WELL INSPECTION (REQUIRED EVERY 10 YEARS)
More instructions can be found on the DNR's website https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Wells/homeowners.html.
UNSAFE WELL
If for any reason, the test comes back as unsafe, you will need to disinfect the well or have a licensed well driller or plumber disinfect the well. If you will be disinfecting the well yourself, please use this attachment as a reference Instructions for Disinfecting a Private Well.
WELL ABANDONMENT
CLEAR WATER METER
A clear water meter is for water that is only used for outside purposes. It can be used for a pool fill, washing vehicles, and watering the lawn and flowers.
Hose bibs can be separated from the dwelling water and sewer piping. A second “clear water” meter can be added, parallel to the first meter, to measure water flow to only outdoor, non-sewerage producing uses. This clear water meter would receive just the water consumption charge and a quarterly base charge. Base charges vary with the size of meter installed. Yard sprinkler systems may need a larger meter if the flow rate is greater than 10-12 gallons per minute. There is a $25 fee for the permit.
If you are interested, please stop into the Municipal Center or call the Kronenwetter Water Utility at 715-693-5732.
EXAMPLE BILL CALCULATION FOR A 5/8" CLEAR WATER METER:
BILLING CYCLE: 90 DAYS
GALLONS USED: 18,000
BASE CHARGE: $10.00
WATER CHARGE: 15 @ $3.59 = 53.85
3 @ $3.43 = 10.29
QUARTERLY BILLING AMOUNT $74.14
