Wisconsin takes steps to protect communities from PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, have been dubbed emerging contaminants of concern in the Mississippi River Basin and beyond. These synthetic chemicals have been widely used in everyday products such as nonstick pans and waterproof fabrics since the 1950s. They’ve also been a key ingredient in industrial applications such as firefighting foam. Today, Wisconsin is passing legislation to address them.
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PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to the bond between their carbon and fluorine atoms. While this strength may help repel water, grease, and oil from our goods, it also makes it difficult to remove PFAS from our bodies. This poses a high health risk as studies show links between contamination and cancer, fertility issues, development delays, and more. 

In Wisconsin, bills addressing PFAS have been under debate for years. The state is one of several in the Upper Mississippi River Region facing a widespread presence of the chemicals. In 2019 Starkweather Creek, a Madison waterbody near the Dane County Regional Airport and Truax Field Air National Guard Base, had the highest levels of PFOA (43 ppt) and PFOS (270 ppt) out of all Department of Natural Resources (DNR)  tested waters. In 2023, a survey found that 71% of shallow private wells across Wisconsin contained PFAS.
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In 2026, the state is taking action. Governor Tony Evers approved a rule change in early March aligning Wisconsin’s PFAS drinking water standards with federal limits. The previous contamination threshold of 70 parts per trillion will be lowered to 4.0 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, and 10 ppt for other outlined PFAS groups.

Additionally, in late March legislators across the aisle united to pass a two-bill package directing $125 million towards PFAS contamination efforts. Authored by Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Gillett, and Rep. Jeff Mursau, R-Crivitz and negotiated with the DNR and several environmental interest groups, the legislation is an example of how diverse stakeholders can come to a compromise for clean water.​

Assembly Bill 130 shields “innocent landowners” and select others from the cost of cleaning up PFAS contamination on their property if they either did not

Wisconsin State Capitol dome: photo Dela Anderson

 cause it or were in compliance with a prior permit and are willing to allow the DNR to perform remediation at their expense. 

​Assembly Bill 131 creates several new PFAS grant programs, including funds for municipal water supply testing, well reconstruction, treatment technology, emergency bottled drinking water, and more. Notably, the bill also seeks to finance long-term studies, including one to “analyze the migration of PFAS into the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers and their tributaries”. 

The bipartisan legislation is set to be signed by Governor Evers in the coming weeks. He celebrated the state’s success in a recent press release, saying “I’ve always believed that every Wisconsinite should have access to clean drinking water that’s free of harmful pollutants, which is why I’ve spent seven years working to clean up our water and get contaminants out of our water supplies for good, including PFAS, which has been a top priority for my administration from the get-go. Today is the culmination of years of work by my administration and marks a historic win for the people of Wisconsin and the health and safety of our kids, families, and communities. It’s a great day for Wisconsin.”