Department of Health Services Provides Conclusions About PFAS in Wausau Drinking Water

 

In a letter dated May 27, 2022 concerning PFAS concentrations within the Wausau municipal drinking water system that was sent to Wausau District 3 Alderperson Tom Kilian, the Department of Health Services (DHS) provided its public health conclusions and recommendations regarding the local water samples taken in June 2019 and January 2022.

The letter states that “drinking unfiltered Wausau drinking water poses a health risk due to the PFAS levels measured” and that “exceedances of DHS health advisories indicate a potential health hazard for residents that continue to use unfiltered water from the Wausau Waterworks as their sole source of drinking water.”

The DHS letter went on to recommend that Wausau residents take action to use an alternative water source for drinking and preparing foods which take up a lot of water (e.g., rice or oatmeal), have water as a main ingredient (e.g., soups, coffee, or tea), and preparing infant formula. The full DHS letter on PFAS in Wausau drinking water can be found here or embedded below.

 

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