ROTHSCHILD, WI (WSAU) — Rothschild water customers have yet to see the financial impact of their new $7 million PFAS treatment facility, but Administrator Ryan VanDeWalle says that will change in the future.
The Village has taken the first steps for a rate case study with the Public Service Commission, meaning an increase is likely to come in the next 12-18 months. “We have started the study itself, but we have not submitted it,” said VanDewalle. “It will likely be late 2026 or early 2027 before we have a sound idea of what that change is going to look like.”
VanDeWalle expects an increase, but it’s too soon to tell what the impact will be.
The higher rates will help the utility keep up with new expenses, like replacing the new granular activated carbon filters that remove PFAS from the water. “It’s several hundred thousand dollars every time we have to change one of those filters. That’s a new cost to us that we haven’t had before. These are things that we are working through.”
The upgrades came after PFAS, or forever chemicals, were discovered in multiple drinking water wells in the Wausau area. Other communities like Weston, Rib Mountain, and Wausau have also upgraded their systems to remove the chemicals.
Other topics VanDeWalle discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Hilton taking over Bantr Hotel and 4 Seasons Golf update
5:15- Plans for a new Mountain Bay Metro PD station
11:50- Water rate case study
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