Hi John,

As you may know, cities and towns across the state have been finding PFAS contamination, also known as “forever chemicals,” in their drinking water, and there may be more communities that haven’t discovered contamination yet.

Wisconsin communities like Wausau, Marinette, Peshtigo, Rhinelander, Eau Claire, Campbell, La Crosse, and Madison have all had confirmed cases of PFAS toxicity. Corporate polluters and their enablers like Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) have been allowing these chemicals to leach into our water for years with no consequences.

No state or federal water regulations

The thing is, there are currently no state or federal standards for testing and cleaning up existing water pollution, and groups like WMC want to keep it that way. We must act quickly to set standards at the state level to protect the health of our neighbors, and particularly our children.

Kayla Furton, Peshtigo resident, portrait with quote about needing water standards

On Feb. 23, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board will vote to pass rules on groundwater, surface water, and drinking water. Thanks to our members, we’ve kept up public pressure through a petition and public testimonies to make sure the board understands what’s at stake.

Continuing the fight

These rules are a necessary first step to establishing standards at the state level, but ultimately, we need to pass the CLEAR Act. Know that we will continue to fight to ensure everyone in our state has access to clean water and hold polluters and elected officials accountable.

And just remember, our voices – our members, partners, and allies – matter. By showing up to testify, signing petitions, and being active in this movement, we have proven over and over again that our voices are louder than the large polluting organizations like WMC. We can create a future where everyone has access to clean water.