Natural Resources Board Sees Widespread Public Support for State PFAS Standards
Elected leaders from communities across Wisconsin are calling on the Natural Resources Board (NRB) to approve state standards for harmful PFAS chemicals. The NRB will decide on Wednesday whether to approve the state’s first ever water quality standards for PFAS, which have been found at high levels in waters around Wisconsin, prompting numerous drinking water and fish consumption advisories.
“Everyone should be able to eat the fish they catch and drink the water flowing from their taps. But in dozens of communities across the state, PFAS contamination is putting our waterways at risk,” says Clean Wisconsin Water Program Director Scott Laeser. “As we begin to address pollution from these ‘forever chemicals,’ our actions must flow from water quality standards that—above all else—protect public health.”
“Our communities need help, and they deserve it now,” the letter states. “We cannot wait years to know what is in our water and begin the process of cleaning it up. Other states around us have already passed similar standards.”
Concern over PFAS pollution extends to virtually every corner of the state. Last week, Wisconsinites from more than 80 cities, towns and villages signed on to a Clean Wisconsin petition calling for state PFAS standards that will bring more testing and cleanup.
“We need standards now and widespread testing for PFAS pollution,” Laeser says. “Wisconsin families deserve to know whether the water they drink is safe, and only testing and enforceable standards can provide that peace of mind
PFAS are a group of chemical compounds used in a vast array of products, from firefighting foam to fast food wrappers. Product brands like Gore-Tex, Teflon, Stainmaster, and Scotchguard all contain PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and can persist in the human body. High-level exposure to some types of PFAS are linked to a host of health impacts including reduced response to vaccines, lower birth weight, thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, and kidney and testicular cancer.
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.
More about the PFAS Problem
- Wisconsin Moves to Bring PFAS Limits In Line with Contested Federal Standards - Danielle Kaeding - Oct 3rd, 2025
- DNR Names Companies Responsible for PFAS Contamination In Northern Wisconsin Community - Danielle Kaeding - Sep 30th, 2025
- Green Bay Area Ducks Contaminated with ‘Forever Chemicals’ - Isiah Holmes - Sep 8th, 2025
- DNR and DHS Issue New PFAS-based Consumption Advisory for Ducks Harvested on Green Bay - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Sep 4th, 2025
- DNR and DHS Issue New PFAS-based Consumption Advisories for Fish and Deer Near town of Stella and Surrounding Waterbodies in Oneida County - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Sep 4th, 2025
- Groundwater Coordinating Council Releases 2025 Report to the Legislature - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Sep 2nd, 2025
- Environmental Groups, Community Advocates Push for PFAS Deal - Henry Redman - Jul 14th, 2025
- Environmental Advocates Hail Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision in Evers v Marklein - Midwest Environmental Advocates - Jul 8th, 2025
- Wisconsin Supreme Court Backs State Regulators of PFAS Pollution - Danielle Kaeding and Rich Kremer - Jun 24th, 2025
- Gov. Evers Releases Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision in WMC Inc v. DNR - Gov. Tony Evers - Jun 24th, 2025
Read more about PFAS Problem here
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Clean Wisconsin
Approved Ai Data Centers in Wisconsin Will Use More Energy Than All Homes in State Combined
Sep 16th, 2025 by Clean WisconsinNew analysis from Clean Wisconsin reveals scale of data center energy demand
Victory for Clean Water Protections in Wisconsin
Aug 27th, 2025 by Clean WisconsinAppeals Court Upholds State Oversight of Wisconsin’s Largest Livestock Operations