ZeroWater filters. Image courtesy: ZeroWater
The Wausau Water Works Commission is set to hear a presentation on funding strategies for a granular activated carbon filtration system to remove PFAS contamination from the city’s drinking water supply.
The Commission will meet at 1:30 in Wausau City Hall to digest the data from the city’s financial consultants and consider implementing the strategy.
Details of the potential funding package were not included in Tuesday’s agenda packet. Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg has previously told WSAU News that the utility may have to raise rates between $3 and $10 per quarter to cover the $16 million price tag, but it is also possible that the city could get federal or state funding for the majority of the cost and make up any shortcomings with ARPA funds.
Rosenberg has been working with elected officials at all levels including members of US Senator Tammy Baldwin’s staff to help secure funding for the project.
Wausau Water Works chose to move forward with a GAC system earlier this year to help combat the so-called forever chemicals in the water supply. PFAS builds up in the human body over time and can lead to health issues including high cholesterol, certain cancers, and reproductive issues.
The chemicals are present in all six of Wausau’s water wells and several other municipal systems in the Wausau area. Leaders in Wausau distributed bottled water and special filters and pitchers to residents this spring to help combat the issue. Others have turned off wells to help get their levels down as low as possible.
At 5:15 the city’s economic development committee will also meet to go over four proposals that were received for a plot of land at 700 Grand Avenue. Those came from Gorman and Company, Commonwealth Development, Horizon Development and Northstar Companies, and General Capital Group and Danna Capital. The proposals focus on bringing affordable housing to the area, and at least one proposal focuses on senior housing. Each group has been invited to Tuesday’s meeting to answer questions about their proposal, and the committee is agendized to go into closed session to discuss them.
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