Arlin and Mary Lou Karnopp live near Luxemburg, Wis., on property once owned by Arlin’s great-grandfather. Their house backs up to a field managed by Rolling Hills Dairy farm, where manure is spread. The Karnopps’ well has tested positive for nitrates and coliform over the years, and they no longer drink the water. They are afraid to let their grandchildren play in their yard due to fears over contaminated soil. Photo taken March 29, 2019. Coburn Dukehart / Wisconsin Watch
Cow manure predicted to cause most sickness from contaminated wells in Kewaunee County
In 2021 I wrote a follow-up story to my coverage of manure contaminated wells in Wisconsin’s Kewaunee County, which explained how a new federal study predicted the incidence of gastrointestinal illness in private drinking wells — identifying manure as the main cause of contamination.
This piece won a Milwaukee Press Club award for “Best coverage of a single news topic or event.”
More of my reporting for Wisconsin Watch can be seen here.