French Island Wells Show PFAS Pollution
State investigates, gives bottled water to residents of island off-shore from La Crosse.

Marines fighting fires with foam, a product that uses PFAS . Photo by Lance Cpl. Shawn Valosin/U.S. Marine Corps.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and several other state agencies are working to provide bottled water to residents of French Island with private drinking wells that may be contaminated with harmful “forever chemicals.”
The island has 1,200 private wells and PFAS chemicals have been found in 180 of them, while other residents await test results.
The DNR is working with water treatment company Culligan to provide residents with five-gallon jugs of clean water.
French Island sits across the Black River from the City of La Crosse. The La Crosse Regional Airport is on the northern part of the island while the Town of Campbell and its 4,300 residents are on the southern part.
The airport is the likely reason PFAS have been found in drinking water across the island because the chemicals are used in firefighting foam commonly used to train and respond to airplane crashes.
The City of La Crosse is providing water to some of the island’s residents but has refused to give water to others. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat directed city workers not to provide bottled water to residents who get water from wells that were contaminated with PFAS but at a levels lower than 20 parts per trillion — despite a recommendation from the DNR not to do so.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services declared a drinking water advisory for the island last week, enabling the DNR to give people clean water while additional wells are tested.
PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals used in a variety of industries for decades that do not break down in the environment. Long term exposure to the chemicals can lead to harmful effects in humans.
Reprinted with permission of Wisconsin Examiner.
More about the PFAS Problem
- Tech Challenge Seeks Solutions for Contaminants, Pipe Issues - The Water Council - Sep 6th, 2023
- PFAS Impact on Wildlife Draws Increased Scrutiny - John Davis - Sep 5th, 2023
- Attorney General Kaul Joins Coalition in Calling for 3M to Pay More and Sooner for Contaminating Americans’ Drinking Water Supply with Toxic PFAS - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Aug 29th, 2023
- Eau Claire Sues PFAS Manufacturers - Henry Redman - Aug 22nd, 2023
- 4% of Tested Water Systems In Wisconsin Exceed EPA’s Proposed PFAS Limits - Danielle Kaeding - Aug 10th, 2023
- Attorney General Kaul Joins Coalition Calling for DuPont to Pay More for Contaminating Americans’ Drinking Water Supply with Toxic PFAS - Wisconsin Department of Justice - Aug 8th, 2023
- Report Highlights Plan to Address Drinking Water Contaminants - Hope Kirwan - Jul 31st, 2023
- Gov. Evers, DNR Highlight Funding Available To Help Communities Address PFAS Contamination In Wastewater - Gov. Tony Evers - Jul 31st, 2023
- Gov. Evers, AG Kaul Oppose 3M’s Proposed PFAS Settlement - Danielle Kaeding - Jul 27th, 2023
- Gov. Evers, AG Kaul Join Bipartisan Coalition in Opposing 3M’s Proposed PFAS Settlement - Gov. Tony Evers - Jul 27th, 2023
Read more about PFAS Problem here