City of Madison Celebrates the Recommissioning of Well 15, New PFAS Treatment Facility
Wisconsin Eagle/10316595

~ Madison, WI - After being shut down for two years due to PFAS contamination, Well 15 on Madison's northeast side is finally reopening thanks to the completion of a new treatment facility. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Water Utility General Manager Krishna Kumar joined together today to celebrate the milestone and officially reopen the well.

The well, which was first discovered to have PFAS contamination in 2017, has been out of operation since 2019. But with the new PFAS filtration system now up and running, all measurable levels of PFAS are being removed from the water, making it safe for distribution once again.

"Providing safe, clean drinking water is one of the most important services we provide as a city, and the Madison Water Utility takes that seriously," said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. "We were among the first to voluntarily test our water for PFAS, and we are now among the first to bring a drinking water treatment system online in the state. Thanks to the Madison Water Utility, Governor Evers, and the Biden Administration for their help to bring this to fruition."

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PFAS, or Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are a class of chemicals commonly used in everyday products such as food packaging, cookware, upholstery, clothing, and firefighting foam. These chemicals do not break down naturally in the environment and are often referred to as "forever chemicals."

In response to growing concerns about PFAS contamination in drinking water across the country, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized regulations for PFAS in drinking water. These regulations include new enforcement standards or maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS compounds. While all Madison wells have been meeting these standards except for Well 15, with the new treatment system in place today, it is expected that Well 15 will also meet these standards.

The planning and design process for the treatment system took five years and was informed by community input. Ultimately, the city decided on a hybrid PFAS treatment system that utilizes both granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange (IX) resin. The GAC removes PFAS and other volatile organics, while the IX reduces concentrations of short-chain PFAS.

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As expected, water quality testing results following the installation of the PFAS filtration equipment have shown that the treatment is effective in removing all measurable levels of PFAS compounds to below detectable levels.

The total cost of the project was $5.9 million and was funded through Wisconsin's Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Half of the funding came in the form of principal forgiveness (grants), while the remaining half will eventually be paid for by funds from PFAS settlements. This project did not use any water rate revenues.

"The PFAS treatment at Municipal Well 15 highlights Madison's commitment to providing safe, high-quality water for our community," said Madison Water Utility General Manager Krishna Kumar.

Special thanks were given to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, as well as construction contractor Daniels Construction and design engineering consultants AECOM.

Residents can visit the Well 15 Project Website for more information and sign up to receive email updates and alerts. They can also check out the latest Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for more information on water quality in Madison.

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