Wausau Mayor Joins Statewide Call for Lawmakers to Release Funding for PFAS Remediation

Thursday, December 21st, 2023 -- 8:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg joined the statewide call for lawmakers to release 125 million dollars in funding for PFAS remediation.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, she said Wausau has had a lot of expenses associated with removing the forever chemicals from drinking water, and not just those associated with the new 17 million dollar granular activated carbon filtration system.

"Pitchers that we weren't reimbursed for through the state funds. We had a variety of PR related things so we were giving people the right information at the right time."

She says the funds could also help if the city needs to swap out the resin filtration system that's currently being used to temporarily remove the chemicals.

"It's a million dollars for that resin that we use right now. We've replaced it once all ready. We're hoping we don't have to replace it again, but if we do, that's another million dollars."

She says if the city gets access to some of those funds to retire debt associated with the water treatment plant it could allow them to take another look at the utility's financial standing next summer, which could be done alongside an examination of the pilot payment from the city to the utility.

"We're looking at making sure that we have an accurate picture when it comes to the finances, so I would expect that discussion to start again in August when we have that full financial picture."

The money in question was part of the last state budget. Lawmakers are in disagreement over how to distribute the money, with some wanting to send it through the DNR and others saying the money should be distributed by the legislature.

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