WISC News 3 has learned that the U.S. Army has started giving bottled water to some 40 families living near its Badger ammunition plant outside of Baraboo.

Trace amounts of a dangerous, potentially cancer-causing compound were recently found in several private wells nearby.

Army and state Department of Natural Resources spokesmen say there’s no cause for alarm. Levels of DNT -- used in the manufacture of ammunition – are below state-mandated concentrations.

But with test results still to come in from 102 homes in the target zone near the mothballed plant, area residents are concerned.

“No level of DNT is acceptable, none, zero,” said Laura Olah, leader of Citizens for Safe Water Around Badger. “There are no health studies for children,” related to DNT, so nobody really knows what an acceptable level is, she said.

“The fact that it’s present is our first concern,” said Steve Ales of the natural resources department. “It’s below drinking water standards, but it’s still something that really shouldn’t be there.”

Drinking the bottled water isn’t mandatory.

“We just want to error on being overly cautious by providing the water,” said Joan Kenney, spokeswoman for the Army installation.

So far we don’t have anything to be concerned about ... it’s below the state health standards,” she said.

“We are recommending people use” the bottled water as a precaution, Ales added.

The army is launching a full-scale ground water investigation to see if long-term bottled water supplies are needed for those who live between the Army plant and the Wisconsin River.

All of which leaves Laura Olah uncomfortable. “We have many more unknowns than knowns,” she said.

The Army said it intends to hold a public hearing next month to share what it has learned.