PFAS detected in Whitelaw wastewater sludge; consultants point to hauled waste as likely source

Donahue & Associates representatives Adam and Mike told the Village of Whitelaw Village Board on July 6 that PFAS were detected in the village’s wastewater sludge and that the contamination likely arrived via hauled waste rather than village-supplied sources. The representatives said a new hauler had been using non-dedicated tankers that may have introduced contaminated residuals, and the village has discontinued acceptance of hauled EIP water until further testing is completed.

The consultants said the lab results will determine land-application restrictions for sludge and could substantially increase disposal or management costs if PFAS concentrations remain elevated. Donahue & Associates advised the board that a new sludge sample will be collected for the upcoming permit cycle and that the village should follow Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) guidance as monitoring continues. The board acknowledged the findings and said it will continue monitoring and follow DNR recommendations.

The presentation did not include exact PFAS concentration numbers in the meeting record and did not specify a timeline for when the new sample results are expected. The consultants’ summary identified hauled waste practices as the likely pathway and recommended additional testing and DNR-aligned next steps; the board did not take a formal vote on regulatory or contracting actions during the meeting.