Wausau Drinking Water Plant. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The City of Wausau has been awarded $2.8 million from 3M as part of a lawsuit over PFAS contamination in the city’s drinking water wells.
Mayor Doug Diny announced the settlement in a Friday night press release, saying, “This funding is a major win for Wausau residents. By directing these dollars to offset capital expenses in our water utility, we can reduce debt service costs that impact rates, ensuring safe, reliable water without added burdens on families and businesses.”
Wausau entered the lawsuit in 2023, shortly after elevated PFAS levels were found in all six of its municipal drinking water wells. Since then, the city has retrofitted its drinking water treatment plant with a granular activated carbon filtration system, which removes the chemicals to undetectable levels.
The City Council and Water Works Commission will decide what to do with the money, though Mayor Diny outlined three options:
- Offset Capital Expenses: Fund upgrades to water treatment and distribution systems, including PFAS mitigation technologies.
- Reduce Debt Service: Lower borrowing needs for infrastructure, cutting annual debt payments.
- Stabilize Rates: Use one-time funds to mitigate upward pressure on rates.
Diny notes that the city could get additional settlement funds from a lawsuit involving DuPont and a special needs fund.
Comments