(The Center Square) – Wisconsin has the most public drinking water systems in the entire country, and almost all passed the standards in the state’s latest water report.
The Department of Natural Resources this week released their Annual Drinking Water Report for 2023. The state has 11,206 systems statewide.
The report said in part, “During 2023, more than 99% of Wisconsin’s public water systems provided water that met all the health-based Maximum Contaminant Level standards for regulated contaminants. Only 70 systems experienced MCL exceedances. Exceeding a maximum contaminant level does not necessarily mean that consumers experienced adverse health effects from drinking the water, but it does require a water system to notify consumers and take action to correct the problem.”
The Department of Natural Resources said Wisconsin has 1,034 different community water systems that serve 70% of the state’s population. The remaining 30% of people receive their water from private domestic wells.
The analysis looks at the five major contaminants – radionuclides, microbial contaminants, arsenic, lead and copper. The report, again, found that only a tiny percentage of water systems across the state had any problem with any of the five.
There is a brief mention of PFAS chemicals, but Wisconsin did not test for PFAS levels in the state’s water supply system in 2023.
PFAS, an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely used, long lasting chemicals, components of which break down very slowly over time. Studies vary on their harmful effects; more is known about their impact on animals than on humans. PFAS, the Environmental Protection Agency says, “are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the nation” and throughout the world.
Of those water systems that saw a problem, or exceeded contaminant levels, most got a notice of noncompliance.
The report shows the Department of Natural Resources sent 1,695 of those. From those notices, just 42 systems were sent a notice of violation, and of those cases just 35 ended with an enforcement conference.
Only two contaminant cases were referred to the state’s Department of Justice, and only one of those ended with a judgment from the Justice Department or a court.
The report says, “The DNR follows a ‘stepped’ enforcement process to help water systems return to compliance, using actions designed to resolve violations at the lowest level – of formality and severity – that is appropriate. Most violations are resolved quickly because systems take action immediately after learning about them. Whenever possible, the DNR’s more formal enforcement relies on voluntary agreements to take corrective action and establish a timeline for returning to compliance.”
The report also gives some insight into the $60.6 million in Safe Drinking Water that were handed out last year, and the nearly $5 million spent on private lead pipe replacement across the state.
In conclusion, the report said, “Wisconsin’s water supply infrastructure – like the rest of the nation’s – is aging. Communities and their citizens face steep costs to maintain and upgrade the wells, pumps, pipes and treatment facilities needed to bring drinking water to our homes and businesses every day. According to the EPA’s 2021 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, Wisconsin will need approximately $11.8 billion to meet the state’s drinking water infrastructure needs between 2021 and 2040.”
