By Rapids City Times staff

SARATOGA – Opposition to the expansion of Golden Sands Dairy continues in the town of Saratoga.

Protect Wood County and its neighbors met June 25 to talk about the implications of the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling that would allow for the mega-farm to proceed.

Attorney Paul Kent of Madison said that the fight is not over.

“We have a long way to go,” he said. “This situation is not over by any means. The town’s objective to protect the groundwater and the drinking water of the residents is something that will continue through a number of different vehicles.”

The town has installed an extensive groundwater monitoring network which would catch any increases in nitrate levels around the town. Kent says those sensors have been in place for four years providing background data on the town’s water. He says it’s not a situation where if wells become contaminated people won’t know where it’s coming from. If it goes from two parts per million to 15 parts per million, Kent says “we’ll know, and we will have the ability to bring suit.”

Kent says the town currently has compliant groundwater.

The battle over the proposed expansion has been going on for over five years. The primary concern for residents remains the level of nitrates that would get into the town’s water because of the sandy soils in the area.