The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) is conducting a statewide investigation into the occurrence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water at select municipal drinking water suppliers in WI during 2022. The City of Schofield voluntarily took part in this investigation by sampling its drinking water for PFAS. The City of Schofield decided to sample for PFAS to proactively assess the potential impacts of PFAS in the drinking water and to quickly take steps to protect the health of our customers if needed.
It is not uncommon to find low levels of PFAS in drinking water supplies, as PFAS can be found in fire-fighting foams, stain repellants, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, food wrappers, and are used in many industrial processes. They do not break down in the environment and move easily into water.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WI DHS) has made health based advisory level recommendations for 12 individual PFAS compounds and a combined value for 6 additional compounds.
The City of Schofield drinking water was tested as a part of this sampling project. The test results can be found on this website.
The City of Schofield is committed to providing our customers with quality drinking water. As your water supplier, we are working closely with WI DNR to maintain the quality of your water.
Specific health information regarding PFAS compounds with health advisory recommendations in WI can be found here:
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/water/gws-cycle11.htm.
Additional health information regarding PFAS can be found here:
DHS PFAS https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/chemical/pfas.htm.
Sincerely,
Mark Thuot
Public Works Director
JAN. 18, 2023: NEW PFAS FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LAKE WAUSAU AND STEVENS POINT FLOWAGE
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced a new PFAS-based consumption advisory for several fish species in Lake Wausau in Marathon County and the Stevens Point Flowage in Portage County (both of which are segments of the Wisconsin River) based on fish sampling.
Elevated levels of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), a type of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), were found in several fish species sampled from both Lake Wausau and the Stevens Point Flowage.
As a result, the DNR and DHS recommend the following consumption guidelines for anyone harvesting fish from those waterbodies:
Lake Wausau (Marathon County): Advisory is from the Wausau Dam downstream to the Schofield Dam and Rothschild Dam, including the Big Rib River until it flows under Hwy 29.
Species | Previous advisory | New advisory |
Black Crappie | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Bluegill | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Rock Bass | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Yellow Perch | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Common Carp | 1 meal/month (PCBs) | 1 meal/month (PCBs)(No change) |
Redhorse | 1 meal/month (PCBs) | 1 meal/month (PCBs)(No change) |
Stevens Point Flowage (Portage County): Advisory begins at the Du Bay Dam and flows downstream to the Stevens Point Dam.
Species | Previous advisory | New advisory |
Black Crappie | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Bluegill | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Rock Bass | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Yellow Perch | General/Statewide* | 1 meal/week |
Common Carp | 1 meal/month (PCBs) | 1 meal/month (PCBs)(No change) |
Redhorse | 1 meal/month (PCBs) | 1 meal/month (PCBs)(No change) |
*The general/statewide consumption advice for women <50 and children is 1 meal/week for bluegill, crappies, yellow perch, sunfish, rock bass, bullheads and inland trout and 1 meal/month for all other species. For women >50 and men, the general/statewide consumption advice is 1 meal/week for all species except for bluegill, crappies, yellow perch, sunfish, rock bass, bullheads and inland trout, which are unrestricted.