As part of our ongoing pollution prevention efforts, NEW Water voluntarily continued sampling at its two treatment facilities in 2024 on a quarterly basis. Starting in spring 2024, NEW Water expanded its PFAS monitoring into the collection system (sewershed** outside of the treatment facilities –see NEW Water service area map) to identify possible sources of PFAS. NEW Water is not currently subject to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) PFAS surface water criteria or monitoring requirements. After a quality assurance/quality control review, an annual data summary has been compiled.
NEW Water conducted monitoring at locations representative of our incoming untreated wastewater and our outgoing treated wastewater at the Green Bay Facility and the De Pere Facility. NEW Water also conducted monitoring within the collection system at major service area contribution locations, residential/commercial areas, and at industrial facilities that are known or potential PFAS sources.
While the data helps inform future monitoring plans and pollution prevention strategies, it is important to note that the summary is from a limited data set due to the significant time and expense associated with sampling and testing for PFAS. The significance of a PFAS source is not dependent on the concentration alone, but is also impacted by the volume of flow discharged.