RHINELANDER, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — The city of Rhinelander is getting a boost to help clean up its water supply, to the tune of $1.6 million coming from President Biden’s recently signed spending plan.
Officials intend to use the funds to curb the effects of PFAS chemicals found in multiple city wells, some of which were closed due to high levels.
City administrator Zach Vruwink calls the payout “critical.”
“We take clean, safe drinking water very seriously and we want to make sure we continue to make it good on our promises to provide that, and so the resources are very important and will be very beneficial,” he told WAOW TV.
There is no set timetable yet for how the city will spend the funds.
Rhinelander has been battling PFAS-related issues for nearly two years.
The city is one of over a dozen in the state that is dealing with the emerging contaminants. That includes Wausau, where city leaders recently approved the use of ARPA funds to purchase bottled water and filter pitchers for residents concerned about the elevated levels that were discovered in all six municipal wells.
Scott Boers, the city’s Water Operations Superintendent, tells WSAU news they are still waiting on confirmation of an order of pitchers and filters from ZeroWater. Once those are received, they’ll be available for residents to pick up.
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