03/20/2019- Warming temperatures, snow melt, rain and lingering frozen ground can create conditions that may negatively affect private wells and drinking water, according to the Wisconsin DNR. Representatives with the agency say at this time of year they encourage well owners to watch for signs of flooding and note any change in the color, smell or taste of their drinking water. Because flood waters and rain runoff may contain bacteria and other contaminants, owners who see flood waters very near or over their wells should assume their drinking water could be contaminated. They’ll need to stop drinking the well water until the flood waters recede, properly disinfect their well, and have their well water sampled before drinking again.