City Wells Tested For PFAS; Results Show Levels Significantly Below Recommended Standards

By Press release submission

Feb 13, 2022

Beloit City - WI issued the following announcement on Feb 11.

Independent testing of City of Beloit wells for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the water supply indicated that the PFAS levels are significantly below recommended levels.

PFAS “are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s,” according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ website. “PFAS do not occur naturally and are widespread in the environment. They are found in people, wildlife and fish all over the world. Some PFAS can stay in peoples' bodies a long time and do not break down easily in the environment.”

The health impacts of low levels of exposure to PFAS are uncertain at this time, according the Centers for Disease Control.

The City of Beloit Public Works Department’s Water Resources Division used a third party to conduct testing on all of its wells from August-December 2021. The tests were done voluntarily to determine what – if any – impact PFAS have on the water supply. PFAS levels are not currently regulated or enforced, however, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is recommending the most restrictive groundwater enforcement standards be 20 ppt or less (combined for several compounds).

“The Water Resources Division works hard to ensure our community’s drinking water is safe for consumption,” said Bill Frisbee, Director of Water Resources. “Providing clean, safe drinking water to our residents is crucial, and the knowledge we gained from these tests help establish a baseline moving forward.”

The testing conducted looked for 33 PFAS compounds to determine if they were present in any of the city’s eight wells. Three of the wells did not have detectable results of PFAS. The highest reading was 5.13 ppt, which is well below the recommended standards.

Well Number

We have 8 total wells; there are some gaps in the numerical name order.

Well Results

Results that are less than limit of detection are considered unquantifiable.

Recommended Standard

1.1 ppt

=<20 ppt

0 ppt

=<20 ppt

1.15 ppt

=<20 ppt

0 ppt