Wausau Water Works
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – Wausau Water Works may use an outside consultant to look into problems with “forever chemicals” – or PFAS – in the city’s drinking water.
During their regular meeting Tuesday the Commission voted to instruct staff to solicit proposals for the consultants, which could be approved by the city’s Finance Committee and Council later this month.
Donohue & Associates and Becher Hoppe will make both long and short-term recommendations to the city. Short term, the city wants information on the current risks at the current PFAS levels. Earlier Mayor Katie Rosenberg had suggested a temporary filtration system could be brought in. Long-term the city will decide whether any additional technology should be added to the new water filtration plant, which is scheduled to go online in August. Rosenberg said she expects PFAS levels to be lowered once the new facility is ready.
At a meeting last week of the state’s Natural Resources Board, members recommended the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s standard of 70 PPT to determine water safety in Wisconsin. Under those guidelines, all of Wausau’s water is safe to drink. The Department of Natural Resources wanted a stricter 20 PPT standard.
The Wausau School District has turned off water fountains at schools that are served by Wausau’s water supply. Students are allowed to bring their own water to class. And The Neighbors Place is distributing bottled water to people who use their food pantry.
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