Wisconsin to invest $145 million in PFAS cleanup for municipal water systems
(UI) — Gov. Tony Evers has announced a $145 million initiative as part of his 2025-27 Executive Budget to combat PFAS contamination, protect families from harmful water pollutants, and improve access to clean drinking water across Wisconsin.
“Whether it’s kids in the classroom, families at home, or our farmers and agricultural industries, Wisconsinites’ health and well-being depend on access to clean, safe water,” Evers said. “Folks should be able to trust that the water coming from their tap is safe, but we know that’s not the case for far too many families and communities.”
The budget, set to be introduced on Feb. 18, 2025, includes funding for municipal water systems, private well owners, and surface water improvements. Key initiatives include:
- PFAS Community Grant Program: Supports municipal drinking water systems in testing and eliminating PFAS.
- PFAS Cleanup and Research: Funds research into PFAS disposal and grants to businesses and communities to reduce PFAS use.
- Emergency Water Resources: Allocates $2 million for bottled water in contaminated areas.
- CLEAR Act Adoption: Strengthens water quality laws, including restrictions on biosolid land spreading and prioritization of PFAS-related infrastructure projects.
Additionally, Evers has approved a new rulemaking process to establish public health-based groundwater standards for six PFAS compounds. These efforts build on the administration’s ongoing work to ensure access to clean drinking water.
The governor also declared 2025 as the Year of the Kid, introducing measures to address childhood lead exposure and improve school water quality. His budget includes $6 million for lead poisoning intervention, funding for schools to install filtered water stations, and $5 million in federal support for well compensation grants.
Wisconsin groundwater supplies drinking water to much of the state, making contamination a serious public health concern. While the EPA has set federal drinking water limits for six PFAS, no state or federal regulations currently exist for groundwater. The new rulemaking process aims to close that gap, ensuring safe drinking water for residents statewide.
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