Finally: Wisconsin Moves to Protect Rural Communities from Toxic PFAS

After nearly a decade of relentless advocacy from communities and environmental groups across the state, Wisconsin’s Natural Resources Board today voted unanimously to adopt the state’s first ever regulatory standards for toxic PFAS in groundwater. These safeguards are critical to protect tens of thousands of rural Wisconsinites who rely on private wells for their drinking water. While Wisconsin enacted PFAS protections for municipal drinking water and lakes and rivers more than four years ago, those safeguards did not apply to the 30 percent of Wisconsinites who use private wells.

“Rural families, schools, daycares and businesses across Wisconsin that rely on private wells were left out of state PFAS protections until today,” says Clean Wisconsin Water and Agriculture Director Sara Walling. “We cannot have public health standards for some but not all. This was an issue of fairness. Establishing these groundwater standards closes that gap and ensures rural families are eligible for resources to help them access safe water.”

Clean Wisconsin, along with Marinette-based advocacy group SOH2O and other community advocates, first began calling for PFAS groundwater standards in 2017, only to have Walker-era appointees on the Natural Resources Board abruptly vote down a proposed rule in 2022. The vote proved to be a tremendous setback for rural communities facing contamination.

“When PFAS were confirmed to be polluting drinking water in Marinette and Peshtigo in 2017, the first thing those communities asked for from the state was a groundwater standard,” says Clean Wisconsin Government Relations Director Erik Kanter. “After nearly ten years of advocating, these communities and others across the state finally got what they need. Clean Wisconsin is proud to have stood next to these communities in this fight. They deserve all the credit for today’s success. It was a long time coming.”

“Advocating for safe drinking water for the third of Wisconsinites on private wells has been a priority for SOH2O for a decade,” says Doug Oitzinger, Marinette resident and member of Save our Water, or SOH2O. “This significant step toward achieving equal protection is a win we can build on for the next steps needed to get these Forever Chemicals out of our environment and out of our drinking water forever.”

The rule will now go before standing committees of the legislature for a passive review process in accordance with the state rulemaking process. The standing committees may ask for a public hearing or meeting with the Department of Natural Resources, but they cannot unilaterally alter or veto the proposal. The rule will go into effect in 2027.

The state must now focus on cleaning up existing contamination areas and stemming the flow of PFAS into our environment. Clean Wisconsin is calling for a ban on non-essential uses of PFAS in our state, along with investigation into the presence of PFAS in pesticides and biosolids.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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