DNR Says Bottled Water Companies in Wisconsin Aren't Required to Test for PFAS Under Current State and Federal Regulations

Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 -- 9:01 AM

(By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio) The state Department of Natural Resources said bottled water companies in Wisconsin aren’t required to test for PFAS under current state and federal regulations.

According to Danielle Kaeding with Wisconsin Public Radio, the state is currently paying about $550,000 to companies providing temporary bottled water to communities struggling with PFAS contamination of private wells.

The DNR said it’s contracting with vendors that voluntarily sample for the chemicals. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals. They’ve been used in a wide array of products like cookware, food wrappers and firefighting foam.

The chemicals don’t break down easily in the environment. Research shows high exposure to PFAS has been linked to kidney and testicular cancers, fertility issues, thyroid disease and reduced response to vaccines over time.

In Wisconsin, the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, or DATCP, is required by law to sample bottled water produced in the state. The agency analyzes water quality based on standards set by the Food and Drug Administration and DNR groundwater thresholds, according to Jim Zellmer, administrator of the DNR’s environmental management division.

While not required, Zellmer said a number of companies voluntarily sample for the chemicals or use treatment methods capable of removing PFAS. The DNR’s policy-making board approved a drinking water standard of 70 parts per trillion for PFAS, which took effect in August of last year.

However, the board failed to pass limits for PFAS in groundwater. While those standards are lacking, the DNR is crafting limits for the chemicals in groundwater. Around a third of state residents get their drinking water from private wells.

DATCP requires the state’s 30 bottled water plants to test their water in line with state statutes overseeing wholesale food manufacturing, according to Sam GO, the agency’s communications director.

While bottled water must meet FDA standards, the agency has based them on national drinking water regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, the EPA has yet to release federal drinking water standards for PFAS.

Earlier this year, federal regulators proposed limits of 4 parts per trillion for the two most widely studied PFAS chemicals. The EPA plans to finalize standards for six substances by the end of the year.

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