PFAS Found in Most Wisconsin Shallow Wells

PFAS Found in Most Wisconsin Shallow Wells

In a new study backed by the EPA (we read the report so you don’t have to, you’re welcome), Wisconsin's experts took a close look at the state's shallow groundwater — the water that sits just beneath the surface and serves as a critical drinking source for most residents. They tested water from 450 private wells and found PFAS in 71% of them.

But there's a silver lining: only a tiny fraction of these samples had PFAS levels that were concerning according to health guidelines. The study also noticed that PFAS were most commonly found in urban areas compared to rural ones. Another interesting takeaway was that traces of everyday products like artificial sweeteners pointed to household waste as a likely PFAS source, more so than farming. To get a true spread of data, homes were chosen randomly across Wisconsin.

AI & the Water Treatment Industry

In a recent article from Arthur Freedman Associates, the team takes a fresh look at AI, moving beyond Hollywood's scary robots to its real-world benefits in the water treatment industry. (After all, AI has been named the word of the year.)

The consultants discuss Autodesk's insights (see AI for water: 10 ways AI is changing the water industry), showing us how AI is starting to smartly manage energy and water use, like tweaking pump schedules to cut waste. It's not just about saving money, though—it's also about saving wisdom. Freedman brings up a cool point: AI could help capture a pro's lifetime of knowledge before they retire. Also, they see a time when water experts will need to be more tech-savvy. But rest assured, no matter how much AI grows, it's the human skills that'll count more than ever.

Federal vs. State: Who Regulates Drinking Water?

We’re going back to the land of cheeseheads and Packers to discuss how different levels of government are actually involved in regulating drinking water. At the federal level, the EPA sets nationwide safety limits on lots of bad stuff in water, including cancer-causing chemicals. For instance, they’ve decided how much arsenic is too much for the water we drink, capping it at a tiny 0.01 milligrams per liter because nobody wants a side of carcinogens with their glass of water. States can get even tougher on these rules or make new ones for things the EPA hasn't covered, like the ever-popular PFAS chemicals. In Wisconsin, it's not just arsenic and PFAS on the radar; the state’s water guardians oversee a lineup of over 90 contaminants.

From the Archive: Things to Consider Before Selling Your Water Treatment Company

We're going back into the archives with this post from WCP. As the baby boomer generation moves toward retirement (and $16 trillion in assets go up for grabs), the water treatment industry is bracing for a major transfer of business ownership. For business owners, getting a good deal when selling their life’s work means planning ahead and getting lots of interested buyers to the table. Most of the time, the big fish in the industry scoop up the smaller companies, which can put a damper on how much sellers get out of the deal. Owners need to know there are two main types of buyers: those looking to grow their own businesses (strategic acquirers) and those just looking to invest (financial acquirers). Getting the highest value for your business means understanding what makes it valuable and exploring all the different ways you can sell.

What else is happening:

• Video: South African entrepreneur invents a new water filtration system using macadamia nuts and nano-technology

• EcoWater launches eflow Tankless Reverse Osmosis System, available exclusively through authorized EcoWater Dealerships

• Spring Well Water explains the effects of hard water on dishwashers

• Scientists from NC State and UNC have developed a new way to find and study PFAS chemicals using a tool called ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)

• New Hampshire Congressman advocates for state’s PFAS rebates to be nontaxable, emphasizing that they should qualify as "general welfare and disaster relief payments"