Speaker: Gavin Dehnert

Setting Cycle 11 Groundwater Standards - What is the process?

The goal of Wisconsin groundwater and drinking water program (GDWP) is to protect public health by ensuring all Wisconsinites have access to safe drinking water. In a process laid out in State statute, GDWP develops recommendations for State groundwater standards that protect water from substances that affect human health. GDWP follows a three step process: gather relevant scientific information, select the appropriate standard, and document findings and recommendations. Recently, GDWP released groundwater standard recommendations in what was the 11th time this work has been done since Wisconsin’s Groundwater Law was established in 1984. This cycle focused mainly on pesticides and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). As detections of PFAS and pesticides increase in Wisconsin groundwater, these groundwater standards can protect our water from substances that can affect human health.