MARINETTE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The company accused of contaminating dozens of drinking wells in the Town of Peshtigo says DNR requirements could delay a long-term solution.
Johnson Controls, the owner of Tyco Fire Products, plans to pipe a new source of water to affected residents in the Town of Peshtigo.
The company’s firefighting foam contains hazardous chemicals known as PFAS, which have been found in nearby ground and surface water. The compounds can lead to serious health problems, including some cancers, liver damage, and thyroid disease.
John Perkins, VP of Environmental Health and Safety for Johnson Controls, contends extra reviews it has recently been saddled with could add up to an additional year to its efforts to bring safe drinking water to Town of Peshtigo residents.
“That, unfortunately, has caused some delay and tonight as we stand here today may not finish the water line by the end of 2020.”
DNR officials confirm it recently asked Johnson Controls to analyze bringing water from the City of Peshtigo as an option. They say some residents have raised concerns about bringing in water from Marinette.
“It’s important to note we are not supporting one or the other municipal water solution,” said Kyle Burton, Field Operations Director for the DNR’s Drinking and Groundwater Program.
“All municipal water systems are regulated the same, so it doesn’t matter where they could get their municipal water from. They would have the same type of regulations and safeguards put in place.”
Johnson Controls believes piping water from Marinette is the quickest and most efficient option. It contends bringing water from the City of Peshtigo could add years to the project.
The DNR must sign off on a solution, which Johnson Controls still hopes to receive this fall.
Meanwhile, in front of more than a hundred residents Wednesday night, the DNR outlined actions it is taking to remedy the situation.
Those actions include further testing on private drinking wells and possible additional sources for PFAS contamination. The DNR also plans to set standards for acceptable PFAS levels and determine what to do with affected biosolids being held in area wastewater treatment plants.
“Marinette has about two years worth of storage for biosolids,” said Jason Knutson, Wastewater Section Chief for the DNR’s Water Quality Bureau.
“They’ve been holding them since late 2017, so now we’re pushing up against that and that’s why we’re really working closely with JCI to evaluate possible solutions or alternative disposal options.”
The biosolids are normally spread on fields in the fall to protect and support soil.
Residents, like Town of Peshtigo’s Jeff Budish, tell FOX 11 they’re concerned warning signs haven’t been put on those fields, or ditches near schools that are also affected.
“We need to step up to the plate and get some signage and everything else to protect the individuals and people and the children from playing in those ditches and none of it has been done yet.”
The Department of Health Services says Johnson Controls has been ordered to put up the signs. However, DHS officials say the signs are more of a precaution as it does not view surface water as a major source for possible contamination.
“We recommend people wash off after (coming in contact with possible contaminated surface water) just because that helps reduce accidentally swallowing the water, so really it is just a precaution,” said Disa Patel with the Department of Health Services.
There will be an additional DNR meeting in September, specifically focused on long-term water supply solutions for the Town of Peshtigo.
The DNR also wants people to know it has launched a website, set up a call line and email to deal directly with resident concerns on this issue.
The DNR also confirmed it has referred possible civil litigation against Johnson Controls to the Department of Justice.
