Madison Reporter

The City of Madison has reopened Well 15 on the northeast side after installing a new PFAS treatment facility. The well had been out of service since 2019 due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are chemicals used in products such as food packaging, cookware, upholstery, clothing, and firefighting foam. These chemicals persist in the environment and are often referred to as “forever chemicals.”

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway stated, “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. 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.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently set new regulations for PFAS levels in drinking water by establishing maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). All other wells in Madison have met these standards except Well 15. With the installation of the filtration system at Well 15, city officials expect it will now comply with federal requirements.

PFAS were initially detected at Well 15 in 2017. The well was closed two years later following community concerns about health risks associated with these chemicals.

The planning and design process for treating Well 15 lasted five years and included input from local residents. The chosen solution combines granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration with ion exchange (IX) resin technology; GAC removes PFAS along with other volatile organic compounds while IX targets short-chain PFAS compounds.

After installation of this equipment, testing confirmed that all measurable PFAS required by regulation have been reduced below detectable limits.

The total cost for upgrading Well 15 was $5.9 million. Funding came through Wisconsin’s Safe Drinking Water Loan Program supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; half was provided as grants via principal forgiveness while remaining costs will be covered using funds from future PFAS settlements rather than water rate revenues.

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

Additional thanks were extended to partners including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Daniels Construction—the project’s contractor—and engineering consultants AECOM.

Further information is available on the City’s official website or through its annual drinking water quality report.