Dept. of Natural Resources: DNR issues PFAS monitoring general permit for biosolids

July 1, 2026

Read the full article by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

"The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today issued the new “PFAS Monitoring for Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) Generators” general permit (WI-0012345-0) to meet the requirements of s. 283.82(4), Wis. Stats. This general permit will require that facilities spreading biosolids monitor and report PFAS concentrations. A general permit is a pre-issued authorization that allows a category of similar activities to proceed without requiring individual permits.

2025 ACT 201, enacted on April 6, 2026, created s. 283.82(4), Wis. Stats., directing the DNR to issue Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permits requiring perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring for sewage sludge. To ensure all sewage sludge generators have PFAS monitoring requirements in a WPDES permit, the Act requires general permit (GP) coverage be issued to all permittees that do not currently have limits or conditions on PFAS substances in their permit. This supplemental general permit applies to all sewage sludge generators with valid WPDES individual permits that do not have limitations or conditions to address PFAS."