APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Some Wisconsin residents — like those in Peshtigo — have been waiting years for a reliable water source due to PFAS contamination. Now, the state is making strides to remove one source of these dangerous chemicals.
“Removing the foam from the firehouses will prevent its potential use, which helps protect firefighters and community members from unnecessary PFAS exposure,” Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Preston Cole said.
According to the Wisconsin DNR, firefighter foam has been used as an extinguishing agent since the 1950s. Cole said it has harmful results.
“PFAS containing foam gets into the groundwater, leaches to the water systems and creates havoc on our human genome,” Cole said.
“We know that lymphoma and many other cancers in the human genome all emanate from being exposed to water and substances that contain PFAS.”
The city of Appleton is partnering with the DNR for a collection center. Cole said it’s not the only fire department that will benefit.
“The burden isn’t carried by these small communities that have to then come up with tens of thousands of dollars to take it to a facility.”
After being collected in Appleton, the foam will be moved to a separate landfill. The PFAS-containing foam will then be taken to a waste collection site in Alabama.
The new program is receiving $1 million from the state. Over 25,000 gallons of the foam will be collected across the state.
Appleton Fire Department Battalion Chief Ethan Kroll tells FOX 11 there will not be an alternative right away.
“We’re working on what is the next best option for replacing the foam with another foam and that’s reaching out to some of the larger contractors that do it on a national level to find out what are they seeing for successes and or failures with the new foam that doesn’t have the same chemical makeup.”
Fire departments in more than 60 counties currently have foam containing PFAS.
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