PFAS_Content Page_Law Implementation

PFAS Law Implementation

Acts 200 and 201 together create and fund new grant programs to help Wisconsin's communities address PFAS contamination, especially in drinking water. Some of the newly created opportunities include sampling drinking water in private wells and at schools and childcare facilities that use their own well and sampling high-capacity irrigation wells, biosolids, sludge, wastewater and landfill leachate for PFAS. These Acts also expand the Well Compensation Grant Program with higher income limits and additional funding so more households and businesses with contaminated private wells are eligible for funding assistance.

Resources

Grant Funding Opportunities

PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program 

The PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program provides eligible municipalities with funding to sample for PFAS in private wells, public water supplies at eligible schools and childcare facilities and wastewater and other eligible materials at treatment plants. Funding is also available for resources to disrupt PFAS exposures for PFAS-impacted well owners and users. Each municipality will design and implement its own sampling program that reflects the needs and priorities of the community.   

Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing (WisPPWT) Program 

The Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing (WisPPWT) program allows private well owners and users to sample their private well for PFAS if they are not located within a municipality that is pursuing a Community Grants Sampling Program. Once the private well owner or user is confirmed to be eligible for PFAS sampling through WisPPWT, the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (WSLH) will ship a home sample kit to their residence. The private well owner or user will collect a water sample and ship it back to the WSLH using a pre-paid shipping label. The DNR will contact participating well owners and users with their sample results. Private well owners and users who are interested in sampling their well for PFAS through WisPPWT should first contact their local officials about community-based plans for PFAS sampling.  

Opportunities for Public Involvement

  • Submit questions and feedback. Staff may not respond to all feedback but will review and consider the input as programs are developed. Input provided about existing programs will be considered for future cycles of that funding program.
  • Subscribe to receive email updates about public input opportunities and program implementation through the Wisconsin PFAS Laws GovDelivery list.

Implementation Timeline

  • Initially, the DNR will prioritize grants for sampling of private wells, schools, childcare facilities and biosolids. 
  • The DNR expects the expanded Well Compensation Grant Program to be launched early in 2027. 
  • Grants for sampling irrigation wells, agriculture and landfill leachate for PFAS are expected to be available in 2027. 
  • Financial assistance opportunities for the remaining elements of the PFAS Laws (e.g. drinking water infrastructure improvements, onsite treatment systems for landfill leachate and grants for airports and industrial possessors) will be developed after these initial programs are launched.  

Implementation Goals

The DNR remains committed to a public health-centered approach to addressing PFAS. The DNR will implement programs to support sampling for PFAS and appropriate actions to disrupt exposure when PFAS are found. Potential actions to disrupt exposure could include:

  • Immediate actions, such as providing a temporary source of alternative water if a private well has PFAS levels at or above or above DHS health advisory levels.
  • Interim actions, such as installing a temporary water treatment system.
  • Long-term actions, such as digging a new well or installing infrastructure to treat contamination.

Implementation News