The Wisconsin DNR has issued a new general permit to regulate PFAS monitoring for sewage sludge

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a new general permit, identified as WI-0012345-0, to regulate PFAS monitoring for sewage sludge, also known as biosolids. This action complies with 2025 ACT 201, which mandates that the DNR require PFAS monitoring for sewage sludge generators via the Wisconsin Pollution Discharge Elimination System (WPDES). The new general permit applies to all sewage sludge generators with valid individual WPDES permits that do not currently have specific conditions regarding PFAS substances.

In addition to the permit, the Bureau of Water Quality has updated its Interim Strategy for Land Application of Biosolids and Industrial Sludges Containing PFAS to better protect public health and the environment. This strategy aims to help facilities identify and reduce PFAS concentrations in biosolids. To assist with these efforts, the DNR plans to launch a new grant program in the summer or fall of 2026. This program will support sampling for PFAS at wastewater treatment facilities, as well as at private wells, schools, and childcare facilities. PFAS are human-made chemicals known to persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body, posing risks such as liver damage, certain cancers, and decreased fertility.