Wausau City Hall. MWC file photo
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau City Council has voted to approve spending $390,000 to purchase bottled water and water filters while also funding the pilot study that will help determine which filtration processes will help get the city’s water to below 20 PPT of PFAS.
Public Works Director Eric Lindman briefly addressed the Council before the vote, saying that his staff is in the process of finalizing which filters will be purchased and how many they’ll be able to get. Once those details are worked out, residents can expect communication from the city about when and where they can pick them up.
Lindman did not provide specific brands during Monday’s meeting but did encourage residents to watch the city’s PFAS website for more information.
He added that Wausau’s situation is being watched closely not only by residents and state regulators but by others in his position as well. “It is important to keep in mind that there are no PFAS removal [systems] in drinking water treatment plants in Wisconsin. There are none,” said Lindman.
“Right now Wausau is at the forefront of this,” added Lindman. “With the path that we are on we will be the first PFAS drinking water treatment system in Wisconsin.”
Monday’s vote was unanimous and served to help the city check all the required boxes since federal stimulus dollars are funding the purchase, according to city Finance Director MaryAnne Groat. She called the special meeting a means of documenting the thought process and decision to declare the situation an emergency and award a no-bid contract to Donohue and Associates for the pilot study, given their history with the city’s water treatment plant and the circumstances surrounding the situation.
Following Monday’s meeting Mayor Rosenberg released more details regarding the availability of bottled water through the following statement:
The Neighbors’ Place to Wausau residents who self-verify that they fall within the TEFAP income guidelines. Go to the “Employee Entrance” at 745 Scott St. & ring the white doorbell for service Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. One case of water is given per visit, more may be given based on household size.
A handful of non-profit agencies are also distributing bottled water procured by the City, including the Hmong American Center, Catholic Charities, Women’s Community, and Health First. United Way’s 2-1-1 has information on where to get bottled water.
Rosenberg reiterated that the city’s goal is to deliver drinking water with no detectable PFAS once the new drinking water treatment plant comes online this summer.
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