Senior WI officials define the drinking water challenges. Action needed.

I've used the phrase "Marshall Plan" in an interview with Michigan-based environmental writer Gary Wilson to describe what Great Lakes neighbor Wisconsin must do to effectively address its clean water challenges.

And I'd say the term I chose for dramatic effect describes what three of Gov. Evers' cabinet officers accurately laid out in a multi-agency document released last week "to reach a day when all [Wisconsin] is safe to drink."

Their recommendations cover these known, major issues:

Nitrates in groundwaterNonpoint pollutionForever (PFAS) chemicalsLead contaminationPathogens

They were highlighted at meetings this year of the Speaker's Task Force on Groundwater, and it's obvious that a lot of funding, inter-agency and bi-partisan cooperation is needed to make real, not marginal or incremental progress.

In the January words of Nancy Utesch, long-time clean water advocate in manure-soaked, CAFO-heavy Kewaunee County:

 'We have waited long enough."

What's needed now? More citizen involvement, serious funding and even more serious statewide and bi-partisan cooperation. Plus, honest commitment from office holders at all levels, or their replacements come election time.

Talll but necessary orders.

Manure flowing from a Kewaunee CAFO.