Tony Evers pledged to clean up Wisconsin’s drinking water in his State of the State address, promising to work to replace lead pipes across the state and improve well water quality during what he dubbed the year of clean drinking water.
Meanwhile, at least 176,000 Wisconsin homes and businesses get water through lead service lines.
The state Department of Natural Resources adopted contentious restrictions on manure spreading in 15 eastern Wisconsin counties, including Kewaunee, last year.
Rob Cowles last year that allows public utilities to provide grants and loans to customers to replace lead pipes.
The new Democratic governor called 2019 the year of clean drinking water in his State of the State speech Tuesday .
Novak said he was glad Evers mentioned water pollution in his speech but he doesn’t know what to expect since Evers was short on specifics.
He said Vos’ task force will watch what the governor does.
Cowles said in an email that he was happy Evers and Vos want to work on cleaning up drinking water.
Wisconsin has never had a governor that made removing lead pipes a priority, she said.
Clean Wisconsin lobbyist Amber Meyer Smith said her group is excited to see Evers emphasize lead pipes and hopes that declaration will focus attention on all water pollution problems.