Kronenwetter Water Filtration System - Photo by MWC's Tom Schumacher
KRONENWTTER, WI (WSAU) – The Village of Kronenwetter has unveiled a new water filtration facility that will help keep the water supply clean of chemicals that could be harmful in high doses.
According to a press release from the village, the facility is connected to Well No. 2, which has been proven to contain high levels of iron and manganese, which can cause fixtures and clothing to stain as well as cause the water to have an odd taste.
Excess iron can also be harmful to hair and skin, producing dryness, brittleness, and other potential skin problems such as acne or eczema.
The village has been attempting to improve its water supply since March 2021, when a multi-step strategy was implemented that included blending water from Wells No. 1 and No. 2 to reduce mineral levels, as well as building a water metering station and purchasing water from Rothschild. The agreement had to be halted in February 2022 after the Village of Rothschild tested positive for PFAS pollution.
Village of Kronenwetter Director of Public Works Greg Ulman told WSAU on Tuesday that while the village’s mineral levels were higher than normal, they were still below EPA standards saying, “We were higher but we wanted to take it down cause we value the residents, our drinking water, and it’s a valuable resource so just wanted to make it better for the residents here. We also have a DNR Cleaner Water Drinking loan so the system won’t cost the taxpayer anything since the cost would be coming from the water utility rates.”
The issue of unclean water in the U.S. has been a growing concern for the general public for more than a decade as municipalities nationwide continue to battle “forever chemicals” such as PFAS and other contaminants like lead, toxic waste, and agricultural contamination. Most notably, the water in Flint, Michigan, was unsafe to drink for years after high levels of lead were found in the city’s water supply until 2018 when the EPA changed the standards for lead in water from 10 parts per billion (ppb) to 15 ppb, which put residents back into the safe category. However, experts say even small exposures to lead in drinking water can cause a variety of health problems, such as damage to the brain and kidneys, interference with the production of red blood cells, and developmental delays in children.
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