Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address on Efforts to Clean Up Wisconsinites’ Water, Approve New Rule Changes Strengthening PFAS Drinking Water Standards

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 03/02/2026 07:30 AM CST
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address on Efforts to Clean Up Wisconsinites’ Water, Approve New Rule Changes Strengthening PFAS Drinking Water Standards
 
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered his weekly radio address highlighting his Administration’s efforts to ensure clean, safe drinking water for kids, families, and communities across the state by continuing efforts to fight PFAS statewide. Gov. Evers announced that he has approved new changes to bring the state’s current drinking water standards in line with federal limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), reducing the state’s threshold for PFAS contamination from its current, outdated level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) to a new enforceable standard of 4.0 part per trillion (ppt) for certain contaminants—an effort that will significantly improve drinking water standards and quality for Wisconsinites. The governor’s announcement also comes as last year, the Natural Resources Board and the governor approved amendments to the state’s lead and copper rule to be in line with federal standards. Together, these actions build on longstanding efforts of the Evers Administration to combat PFAS and lead, protect kids and families from harmful contaminants, and expand access to safe drinking water statewide.

This announcement comes amid ongoing bipartisan negotiations between Gov. Evers and Republican lawmakers to ensure the release of $125 million in long-awaited investments to address PFAS contaminants that were approved in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget over two years ago. The Wisconsin State Assembly approved Assembly Bill 130 and Assembly Bill 131, which, as passed, reflect key aspects of the bipartisan compromise. Now, the measures are being considered for approval by the Wisconsin State Senate, which is slated to conclude its general-business session in March, with opportunities for additional limited-business in April. The governor has vowed to call the Wisconsin State Legislature back into special session at any time during 2026 if key priorities, such as comprehensively addressing PFAS contamination, remain unfinished.

To begin the rulemaking process, the governor and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) submitted a scope statement to amend the current drinking water standards to reflect the new federal maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS and include water standards for three new PFAS compounds for which Wisconsin does not currently have standards. As a result, the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved those standards in January, and last week, the governor signed off on the new rules.

Wisconsin’s previous enforceable standards for PFAS, established in 2022 before the EPA had any drinking water standards for PFAS, were 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. The updated federal rule includes a new enforceable standard of 4.0 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, as well as 10 ppt for other outlined PFAS groups. Similarly, the new lead and copper drinking water rules approved by the governor and the Natural Resources Board in December lowered the lead action level in Wisconsin from 0.015 milligrams per liter (mg/L) to 0.010 mg/L. Both rule changes for lead and copper standards and PFAS standards outline that water systems must take corrective action if the new standards are exceeded to protect public health, welfare, and the safety of the customers it serves.

Hey there, folks! Governor Tony Evers here.

During the 2026 the Year of the Neighbor, ensuring our neighbors have access to clean, safe water has to be a top priority.

Whether it’s kids in the classrooms, families at home, or our farmers or agricultural industries, Wisconsinites should be able to trust that the water coming out of their tap is safe—simple as that.

My administration and I have been working since Day One to get harmful contaminants, like lead and PFAS and copper, out of our water for good.

And this week, I’m excited to build upon our good work by approving our new rule to strengthen drinking water standards for PFAS in Wisconsin.

The new rule I approved will strengthen the enforceable standards for PFAS to help keep kids and families and communities healthy and safe.

And folks, that’s on top of our efforts to strengthen Wisconsin’s lead and copper standards for public drinking water at the end of last year.

Now, with stronger drinking water standards, it is more important than ever that we can support our farmers, public water systems, and homeowners in meeting these new requirements.

I’m as optimistic as ever that PFAS can be a bipartisan success story for us in 2026.

And I remain hopeful that Republican lawmakers will continue working with me and my administration to release the $125 million to fight PFAS contamination statewide, so we can get this done—and get it done right.

With that, I look forward to continuing our work to make sure Wisconsinites—no matter their ZIP code—have access to the safe and clean drinking water they need and deserve.


Thank you. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
###