Doing our part for PFAS

Across the nation, communities and public entities are struggling with how to best address the issue PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in our environment.

Learn more about what Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District is doing to address PFAS in wastewater and beneficial biosolids and the role individuals and businesses have in helping reduce PFAS use and contamination.

OUR COMMITMENT

We are a passionate and experienced resource recovery team that aims to protect public health and the environment.

Established in 1930 to protect the lakes and streams of the upper Yahara watershed, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District serves about 407,000 people in 25 Madison-area customer communities covering about 187 square miles. We treat about 36 million gallons of wastewater at the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant daily.

In the City of Madison, the largest community the District serves, known sources of PFAS contamination are Truax Field Air National Guard Base and the Regional Airport due the use of firefighting foams at these sites.

Work is underway by various agencies, including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Dane County, and City of Madison to address this PFAS contamination. This contamination is linked to PFAS being found in stormwater discharge, area wells, and nearby surface waters.

Wastewater treatment plants are not original sources of PFAS and do not add or have the capability to remove these chemicals during the treatment process. But due to the ever-present nature of PFAS in our environment, there is undoubtedly PFAS in the wastewater our facility receives and recovers.

The District is committed to better understanding PFAS in the wastewater treatment process, helping to fill gaps in current PFAS knowledge with sampling and analysis, and doing our part to minimize PFAS in our resource recovery work.

Holistic Sampling & Analysis

The District conducts PFAS sampling of influent and effluent on a monthly basis. It also tests other aspects of its operations, including biosolids, on a quarterly basis.

Fate & Transport Review

This review shows the pathways of PFAS compounds within the wastewater treatment cycle, from the collection system and to receiving streams, to fields receiving biosolids.

Working with local businesses

We are in the beginning phases of work our permitees and other businesses to help them better understand PFAS and its impacts on the wastewater system.

We all play a part

The best way to keep PFAS out of the environment is to not use PFAS-containing products. Here’s what you can do.

Learn more about PFAS

Check out our fact sheets and find resources to reputable sources of information about PFAS.

Choose PFAS-FREE Products

PFAS are commonly found in American homes in products such as non-stick cookware, furniture, clothing, pizza boxes, dental floss and more

Latest news

Initial results of District’s Phase 2 PFAS sampling

March 15, 2023

Through 2022, the District was engaged in phase 2 of its PFAS sampling plan. This provides preliminary results for PFOA and PFOS, two PFAS compounds.

Sewer District’s PFAS results favorable, indicate expected levels for area

September 30, 2021

The District presented the results of its testing for PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in the local wastewater cycle today. The results were as expected and fall below proposed standards and existing screening levels.