Wisconsin DNR urges 125 municipalities for PFAS test in water

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has launched a new voluntary PFAS testing programme in the wake of recent discoveries of contamination in drinking water as well as groundwater.

The DNR has urged 125 municipal wastewater treatment facilities to commence sampling and analysing the water flowing in and out of the facilities for PFAS compounds.

This will help the department to have a better understanding of how and where PFAS contaminants could enter in the air, land, and waters before finally reaching drinking water.

PFAS, also called as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used for years together in several products including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays.

DNR Secretary-designee Preston Cole said: “No one should ever be afraid to turn on their tap. Clean drinking water is a public health priority.

“Water is life-giving. We have an opportunity with this initiative to take a large step forward in protecting our citizens and our natural resources from harmful contaminants.”

A letter has been sent to the municipal wastewater treatment facilities, urging them to sample their discharges for PFAS.

These facilities were chosen because they are more likely to receive wastewater from businesses that may use PFAS, knowingly or unknowingly.

Similar initiatives were carried out by other states such as Minnesota and Michigan, and these programmes discovered that PFAS could enter the municipal wastewater system.

These contaminants can get into farm fields through land spreading, and to groundwater and rivers and lakes through surface water discharges, and finally into drinking water.

Data derived from the results will be used to help facilities to identify and implement a plan to cut down the amount of PFOA and PFOS entering their facility.

This data will also help the department in setting surface water standards and groundwater standards with regard to these two PFAS compounds.