Madison Reporter

Madison Water Utility has commenced construction on a PFAS treatment facility for Well 15, one of its drinking water wells located on Madison’s east side. The well has been out of operation since 2019 due to PFAS contamination. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Water Utility General Manager Krishna Kumar led the groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction.

"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," stated Mayor Rhodes-Conway. "We were an early adopter of voluntary testing for PFAS chemicals, and we have been proactive in identifying, designing, and now constructing a PFAS treatment system."

PFAS, or Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are chemicals used in various products such as food packaging, cookware, upholstery, clothing and firefighting foam. Known as “forever chemicals,” they do not naturally degrade in the environment.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently finalized regulations for PFAS in drinking water. Six new enforcement standards or maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) were established for PFAS compounds including PFOA and PFOS. The new rule mandates utilities to monitor for PFAS by 2027. Over the past five years, Madison has conducted comprehensive testing on all wells for PFAS and will continue to comply with these new stringent standards.

Well 15 is currently the only City of Madison drinking water well that does not meet the new EPA PFAS standards. After first discovering PFAS at this well in 2017, it was shut down in 2019 due to community concerns. Today's groundbreaking marks the commencement of work on a treatment system to remove PFAS from Well 15’s water supply. The goal is to have this system operational by summer 2025 - ahead of when the new EPA rules come into effect.

Following community input during the planning phase, the City has chosen a hybrid PFAS treatment system for Well 15. This system uses granular activated carbon (GAC) and ion exchange (IX) resin. GAC will remove PFAS and other volatile organics, while IX will reduce concentrations of short-chain PFAS. The treatment is expected to eliminate all PFAS down to non-detectable levels.

The project will be fully financed through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With a total project cost of $5.9M, approximately half of the financing will be received as a grant with no repayment required, while the remainder will be a low-interest loan.

"I want to express my appreciation to President Biden and EPA Administrator Regan for their support of clean water, and for making resources available so cities can prioritize public health," said Mayor Rhodes-Conway.

The construction of the PFAS treatment facility at Municipal Well 15 underscores Madison’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality water to its community.