Wisconsin DNR Advisory Board adopts PFAS Water Standards

March 16, 2022

Read the full article by Christopher E. Avallone and David P. Ruetz (The Hill)

"In late February, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (WDNRs) Natural Resources Board (NRB)—the entity that sets policy for the WDNR—took three steps toward the adoption of statewide standards for PFAS compounds. First, the NRB voted to adopt a drinking water standard of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for two of the most common PFAS compounds; perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and polyfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The standard, if approved by the Wisconsin Legislature and adopted into Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter NR 809, would apply to municipal water supply systems, as well as trailer parks, schools and other institutions that provide drinking water. Next, the NRB voted to adopt a surface water standard of eight (8) ppt for PFOS in most surface waters that can support fish, which if approved, would be implemented through additions to Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapters NR 102, 105, 106 and 219. Finally, the NRB rejected a request for approval of a PFAS standard for groundwater contamination.

PFAS chemicals were widely used from the 1960s to the early 2000s in the manufacture of a variety of consumer products, such as stain resistant carpets, non-stick cookware (e.g., Teflon), firefighting foam, food packaging (e.g., microwave popcorn bags/pizza boxes), water resistant clothing (e.g., pre-2000 GoreTex), water resistant repellent (e.g., Scotchgard) and dental floss. While the use of PFAS compounds has largely been phased out in the U.S., these compounds are still used in the manufacturing of many products worldwide."