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Resources for the Madison Community
Madison stands with the families of Abundant Life community. This page is dedicated to connecting victims and the broader community to resources and accurate information about the tragic events that happened on December 16.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCS) & Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCS)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCS)
Volatile organic compounds are chemical solvents or cleaners (and their by-products) as well as petroleum-derived chemicals. They are often associated with industrial processes. These contaminants can leach into ground water from chemical spills or wastewater discharges from industrial activities. Madison Water Utility annually tests all operating wells for 50 different volatile organic compounds including benzene, carbon tetrachloride, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and xylene. Additional information on the contaminants that are tested, test results, likely sources of contaminants, and the potential health impacts can be found in the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report and websites of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCS)
Synthetic organic compounds are another class of human-made contaminants that may be present in ground water. Collectively, this group includes herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals that come from agriculture, urban storm water runoff, or industrial activities.
Periodic monitoring for these chemical contaminants has occurred for more than twenty years. Generally, wells are sampled every three to six years with the frequency based on previous test results. In 2023, one pesticide was found at trace levels at six wells while another pesticide was detected at one well. Additional information can be found on the EPA and WDNR websites.