UWEC CERCA 2025

PFAS, a group of widely used chemicals, are known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistence in the environment. They are linked to various health concerns, including cancer, thyroid disorders, and reproductive issues. In July 2021, PFAS contamination was discovered in the Eau Claire municipal well field in northwest Eau Claire County, likely from firefighting foam. By 2023, elevated levels of PFAS were found in several private wells in rural southwest Eau Claire County, prompting a county-wide testing initiative in collaboration with the Eau Claire City-County Health Department. Wells were selected based on land use, homeowner consent, and available construction logs. A public service announcement was also released by the Health Department to facilitate broadscale testing across the county, not limited by land use. Between June 2023 and December 2024, student researchers from UWEC sampled 97 private wells for PFAS. The samples were analyzed at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for 33 PFAS compounds. Approximately 30% of the samples tested positive for PFAS, with 8% exceeding the EPA’s proposed limit of 4 ppt for combined PFOA and PFOS, and 2% surpassing the Wisconsin Hazard Index. This study highlights the need for ongoing monitoring of PFAS contamination in private wells.