Grafton, WI - The Village of Grafton Water Utility conducted compliance monitoring for chemicals commonly referred to as "PFAS" within its public water system as required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI-DNR). PFAS is an acronym for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances which are a category of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products including nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and firefighting foam to name a few. PFAS tends to break down very slowly in the environment which is how it has received the unofficial moniker of a "forever chemical."
Very small traces of PFAS have appeared in the first round of the Village's groundwater sampling results. Ranging between 0.3 and 1.3 parts per trillion (ppt) among various sampling sites, the Village's public water supply is below the WI-DNR's regulatory levels of 70 ppt. For reference, a part per trillion is equivalent to a single drop of water in twenty (20) Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The Village of Grafton Water Utility will be reviewing the proposed Environmental Protection Agency PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation and will also be working closely with the WI-DNR to ensure continued compliance with all regulatory agencies. Grafton is committed to its continued provision of safe, high quality drinking water throughout the community. Full PFAS sampling results can be found under the "Other Chemical Samples" tab on the WI-DNR drinking water website https://dnr.wi.gov/dwsviewer/DS/View/137680 . For more information, please contact the Village of Grafton Water Utility at (262) 375-5331 extension 1.