PFAS IN WISCONSIN

• The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) had a voluntary sampling program for communities that were interested in testing their water for PFAS. All results of samples taken as a part of this voluntary testing program are available online to the public and available under "PFAS Contaminant Sample Results".

• View current fish consumption advisories here >

• View the current status of PFAS mitigation efforts at several Wisconsin National Guard facilities here >

• Between 2013 and 2015, the EPA required some utilities in Wisconsin to test for PFAS under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3). The EPA uses the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) to collect data every five years for contaminants that are suspected to be present in drinking water and do not have health-based standards set under the Safe Drinking Water Act. You can search for test results here >

• You can contact your local officials , including the head of your water utility. You can ask if your community's drinking water has been tested for PFAS. If so, ask to see all the results. View a guide that will help you talk to local officials here >

WISCONSIN STANDARDS

“In February, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board declined to adopt the state's recommended groundwater standard of 20 parts per trillion for the chemicals. But the board approved a drinking water standard of 70 parts per trillion for two of the most common PFAS chemicals: PFOA and PFOS…

The board also approved the DNR’s proposed threshold of 8 parts per trillion for PFOS in all surface waters with limited exceptions. For PFOA, the DNR is recommending a standard of 20 parts per trillion in waters deemed public water supplies and 95 parts per trillion for all other surface waters.” (Source)

NATIONAL HEALTH ADVISORY LEVELS

In June 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency announced new health advisory levels for four types of PFAS. These levels are not standards and thereby, are not mandatory to enforce. The health advisory levels are listed below:

• Interim updated Health Advisory for PFOA = 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt)

• Interim updated Health Advisory for PFOS = 0.02 ppt

• Final Health Advisory for GenX chemicals = 10 ppt

• Final Health Advisory for PFBS = 2,000 ppt

News Release - City Of Eau Claire Finds PFAS in City Wells

City of Eau Claire (July 12, 2021)

Voluntary tests were conducted that showed four City Wells exceeded newly recommended guidance put forth by the Wisconsin DNR and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (“DHS”). These four wells were immediately shut off. The remaining 12 wells have either no PFAS or detection numbers below recommended safety limits.

'We Didn't Know': French Island Residents Struggle With Lack Of Clear Solutions For PFAS Contamination

Wisconsin Public Radio (August 2, 2021)

So far, 533 private wells have been tested on the island and all but 12 had traces of PFAS. Thirty-one percent, or 164 wells, had PFAS levels deemed unsafe for drinking water by the state Department of Health Services.

Town Of Peshtigo Residents Have Lived With PFAS Pollution For Years. They're Still Waiting For A Permanent Source Of Safe Water.

Wisconsin Public Radio (August 2, 2021)

Furton and around 140 other residents in the corner of northeastern Wisconsin have been drinking bottled water for years due to PFAS pollution of private wells. The contamination stems from the use of firefighting foam that contained the chemicals at Tyco Fire Products’ fire training facility in Marinette.