Wisconsin receives $600,000 to test for 'forever chemicals' in drinking water

Laura Schulte
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – Local governments will soon have access to federal funding for testing public water supplies for "forever chemicals." 

Gov. Tony Evers announced late Tuesday $600,000 in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for sampling drinking water supplies for PFAS. 

Sampling will be voluntary, according to the statement, but communities who take the opportunity to test their water systems "will have data to know they are providing safe water to their residents." 

If a community finds their drinking water is impacted by the compounds, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health Services will assist community leaders to access resources to protect the health of the residents and address the contamination.

More: Judge: DNR can sample for 'forever chemicals' but can't take action against polluters until standards are passed 

“PFAS are dangerous chemicals that we know impact the health and wellbeing of communities all across our state, and we have a shared mission and obligation as local, state, and national leaders to make sure every family has access to clean, healthy drinking water now and for generations to come,” Evers said in a statement.

The DNR will contact all eligible water utilities about the testing, and information relating to the sampling project will be available online. 

Evers previously proposed to set aside funding for testing drinking water last year, as a part of his biennial budget. The Republican-controlled removed the measure from the budget, and has not taken up legislation that would also fund testing. 

More:Republicans eliminate proposed DNR programs from budget, including several measures to fight 'forever chemical' contaminations

PFAS are a family of more than 5,000 man-made chemicals used for their water- and stain-resistant qualities in products like clothing and carpet, nonstick cookware and good packaging. The compounds are also found in firefighting foam used on military bases and airports, as well as on industrial fires. The compounds are persistent, remaining both in the environment and human body over long periods of time. 

The substances have been linked to types of kidney and testicular cancers, lower birth weights in infants, harm to immune and reproductive systems and altered hormone regulation and thyroid hormones. 

The compounds have been found in dozens of locations around Wisconsin, including Madison, Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Rhinelander, La Crosse, Peshtigo and Marinette. In some locations, drinking water wells have been shut down in order to keep residents from consuming PFAS, while other impacted communities receive bottled water either from the DNR or the polluting entity. 

More: 'It's really frightening': Residents at public hearing urge DNR officials to move forward with groundwater standards

Wisconsin is working toward regulating the compounds, and the Natural Resources Board — the policy setting arm of the DNR — will vote on standards for PFAS in surface, ground and drinking water on Feb. 23. 

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura