Evers administration allocates $402 million to combat PFAS, other water contaminants

By: Associated Press//October 24, 2023//

FILE - Equipment used to test for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, in drinking water is seen at Trident Laboratories in Holland, Mich., June 18, 2018. Republican legislators in Wisconsin have come up with a sweeping new plan to address pollution from PFAS chemicals that would create grants for local governments, limit regulators' ability to deal projects on polluted property and mandate studies on how to treat contaminated water. (Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File)

By: Associated Press//October 24, 2023//

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers is allocating more than $402 million to address polluted drinking water in Wisconsin, his office announced Monday.

The money will be available to 106 Wisconsin municipalities to help them build water infrastructure projects, replace lead service lines and address emerging contaminants such as PFAS.

The money comes from a combination of the state Department of Natural Resources’ Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and a $1 trillion infrastructure bill President Joe Biden signed into law in 2021.

The funding will be made available as municipalities incur costs over the next year. Examples of preliminary approved projects include $30 million for the city of Milwaukee to replace lead pipes and $17 million to help the city of Wausau build a treatment system at the city’s water treatment facility to reduce PFAS concentrations.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man-made chemicals that don’t break down easily in nature. They’re present in a range of products, including cookware, firefighting foam and stain-resistant clothing. They have been linked to low birth weight, cancer and liver disease, and have been shown to reduce vaccines’ effectiveness.

Municipalities across Wisconsin are struggling with PFAS contamination in groundwater, including Marinette, Madison, Wausau and the town of Campbell on French Island. The waters of Green Bay also are contaminated.

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