Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Supporting continued assessment of virus presence and potential virus pathways to deep municipal wells.
Body
Preamble:
The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, in association with the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, has submitted a grant proposal to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to evaluate the transport of human enteric viruses in municipal supply wells by considering viruses as tracers. Previous research in both the City of Madison and the City of LaCrosse has indicated that there are viruses or at least virus nucleic acid sequence signatures in deep wells providing public drinking water.
The purpose of the continuation of this study is to "develop a time series of virus signatures . . . and quantities in the well to infer the mean, the time of travel and transport pathway" and to ". . . aid in the identification of virus transport pathways to selected wells."
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the City of Madison supports the assessment of the virus present and potential virus pathways to the deep municipal wells which are operated by the Madison Water Utility and that the staff of the Madison Water Utility are hereby authorized to continue their support for this venture; and,
Be it further resolved that the data obtained from said tests shall be promulgated by the Madison Water Utility on its website with the appropriate credit to the investigators; and,
Be it finally resolved: that the investigators and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are requested to meet with and discuss their findings with the Director of the City-County Department of Public Health in order that the director can announce the impact of the findings on the public health of the community.