KRONENWETTER, WI (WSAU) — The village of Kronenwetter is halting progress on its plans to purchase water from the neighboring Village of Rothschild for now.
Interim Village Administrator Duane Gau says there are two main reasons for the stall, one being the uncertainty surrounding PFAS contamination which was recently discovered in some of Rothschild’s water.
In an email to WSAU News Gau says they’re waiting for guidance from the state DNR before proceeding further, as PFAS weren’t an issue at the time the agreement was first put in place. On top of that, he says turnover in several key Village positions including his recent appointment as interim Administrator, officials felt it was best to put the matter on hold.
PFAS testing on Kronenwetter’s water supply recently showed levels of around two parts per trillion, well below all current health advisory levels at the state level. Though the US Environmental Protection Agency recently recommended standards for the so-called forever chemicals be placed at nearly undetectable levels.
RELATED: Low Level of PFAS Found in Kronenwetter Water Supply
Rothschild reported standards that were just below 20 PPT in mid-March. They were looking at additional mitigation strategies to bring the readings down further this summer.
RELATED: PFAS Levels in Rothschild Water Fall Below 20 PPT
PFAS are known to cause certain cancers and other health issues including high cholesterol and some reproductive issues in women. They are found in several everyday items, but the most common way they are absorbed into the human body is by drinking contaminated water.
