$6.3 Million in Water System Upgrades Headed to Dodge County Communities – Daily Dodge

Report on Wisconsin’s Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The State of Wisconsin has allocated over $6 million to three communities in Dodge County as part of a $282 million statewide investment through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP). This initiative directly supports the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), by financing critical upgrades to local drinking water infrastructure. The funding aims to enhance public health, ensure water quality, and build resilient community systems.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The SDWLP is a strategic financial mechanism designed to advance SDG 6, which calls for ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The 2026 funding cycle targets key aspects of this goal:

• Target 6.1: Safe and Affordable Drinking Water: The program provides low-interest loans to 74 municipalities, including those in Dodge County, to upgrade and maintain infrastructure necessary for delivering safe drinking water to all residents.
• Target 6.3: Improve Water Quality: By replacing aging watermains and implementing modern control systems, the projects aim to reduce the risk of contamination from lead, PFAS, and other harmful substances, thereby improving ambient water quality.

Project Allocations in Dodge County: A Case Study in Local SDG Implementation

The distribution of funds within Dodge County demonstrates a targeted approach to achieving water security and infrastructure resilience at the local level.

1. City of Beaver Dam: Awarded approximately $4.1 million to replace aging watermains. This project is critical for preventing system breaks and ensuring a reliable water supply, contributing to SDG 6 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
2. Village of Clyman: Allocated approximately $1.7 million to install a modern SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) control network. This technological upgrade supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by enhancing the efficiency and management of the community’s water system.
3. Village of Iron Ridge: Will receive nearly $495,000 for watermain replacement. This investment improves water flow and system reliability, directly supporting the goal of providing universal access to basic services.

Broader Impact on Interconnected SDGs

The investment in water infrastructure yields benefits that extend beyond SDG 6, highlighting the interconnected nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Governor Tony Evers emphasized that the funding is integral to ensuring water is free from contaminants. This directly supports Target 3.9, which aims to substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and water pollution.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The program focuses on developing quality, reliable, and resilient infrastructure. The Clyman SCADA system project is a clear example of adopting new technologies to upgrade infrastructure for greater sustainability and efficiency.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: By strengthening essential public utilities, these projects enhance the safety and resilience of human settlements, a core objective of SDG 11.

Program Efficacy and State-Level Commitment

The Safe Drinking Water Loan Program represents a long-term state commitment to sustainable development principles. Since its inception in 1998, the program has been a vital tool for community development, distributing nearly $1.5 billion to protect public health and modernize infrastructure. The state’s ongoing investment underscores a policy alignment with the global objective of guaranteeing clean water as a fundamental component of healthy and sustainable communities.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and initiatives that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on improving drinking water infrastructure and ensuring public health links the content to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article revolves around state funding for upgrading local drinking water systems to ensure they are safe and reliable.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article explicitly states that the projects aim to “protect public health” and ensure water is free from “harmful contaminants” like lead and PFAS, which directly contributes to the well-being of the communities.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The funding is allocated for specific infrastructure projects, such as replacing “aging watermains” and installing a “modern, system-wide SCADA control network.” This represents an investment in building resilient and sustainable infrastructure.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The initiatives support municipalities in providing essential services (safe drinking water) to their residents, which is a core component of making cities and communities safe, resilient, and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the details provided in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article’s main theme is the provision of funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to help communities like Beaver Dam, Iron Ridge, and Clyman improve their water systems. This initiative is a direct effort to ensure residents have access to “clean, safe drinking water.”

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” Governor Evers’ statement emphasizes the goal of ensuring water is “free from lead, PFAS, and other harmful contaminants.” This directly addresses the reduction of health risks associated with contaminated drinking water.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure…to support…human well-being.” The projects described, such as replacing aging watermains to “reduce the risk of future breaks” and installing modern control systems to “manage the community’s water system more efficiently,” are clear examples of developing reliable and resilient infrastructure to support the well-being of residents.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: “By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services…” Improving local drinking water systems is a fundamental aspect of providing basic services to communities, making them more livable and sustainable.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators by name, but it contains information that can serve as practical, implied indicators for measuring progress:

For Target 6.1 (Safe Drinking Water)

• Implied Indicator: The number of communities and residents benefiting from improved water systems. The article names three specific communities (Beaver Dam, Iron Ridge, Clyman) and notes they are among 74 municipalities chosen statewide. This serves as a measure of the population gaining access to safer water services.

For Target 3.9 (Reduce Illness from Contamination)

• Implied Indicator: The reduction or elimination of specific contaminants in the water supply. The governor’s goal to make water “free from lead, PFAS, and other harmful contaminants” implies that progress would be measured by testing water quality for the absence of these substances.

For Target 9.1 (Resilient Infrastructure)

• Implied Indicator: The amount of financial investment in water infrastructure and the completion of specific projects. The article quantifies the investment for each community (e.g., “$4.1 million in low-interest loans” for Beaver Dam) and describes the physical upgrades (e.g., replacement of watermains, installation of a SCADA network).

For Target 11.1 (Access to Basic Services)

• Implied Indicator: The number of municipalities receiving financial assistance to upgrade basic services. The article states that “74 Wisconsin municipalities” were chosen to receive assistance, which is a direct measure of the effort to improve basic services across the state.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: dailydodge.com