By Shereen Siewert
Rothschild officials say one of the village’s wells was taken offline one hour after discovering concerning toxic chemicals in the water supply.
Testing was performed Feb. 2 with results received Feb. 18, according to a village news release issued on Feb. 23. The voluntary tests sampled for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the drinking water system. Village officials determined the level of PFAS warrant additional action, which prompted them to discuss the results with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and begin next steps.
“PFAS concentrations were measured in each of our four wells at levels ranging from below to just above the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) recommended groundwater standards,” Wednesday’s news release reads. “Based on the water sampling results, immediate action was taken and Well #4 was taken offline within an hour of learning of concerning levels of PFAS.”
Village officials are combining water from remaining wells that will provide all customers with drinking water below all recommended PFAS standards. The utility is not in violation of any current standards and village officials insist the risk to human health is low.
The Rothschild Water Utility will confirm that water leaving the treatment plant is below all recommended standards and guidance levels by resampling this week. Results are expected within two to three weeks from the time of sampling and will be available at www.rothschildwi.com.
“We have been and are currently committed to working with the DNR and DHS to determine how corrective actions should be taken,” the release reads. “A full list of the sampling results, including the individual PFAS compounds, the reported concentrations and DHS recommended standards, can be found at www.rothschildwi.com. This webpage will be updated as soon as additional results are available.”
The DNR, DHS, and Rothschild Water Utility are not recommending changes in water use at this time.
A news conference is set for Wednesday morning.
