Suspected source: Firefighting foams used by Tyco Fire Products at the Ansul Fire Technology Center.
Tyco has been testing groundwater since 2017, after discovering PFOA and PFOS in the groundwater beyond their test field in southern Marinette.
Out of the 137 wells tested during the winter after Tyco initially became aware of the contamination, 97 revealed no contamination, 29 revealed PFAS below the health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion set by the EPA and 11 revealed PFAS above the health advisory level. Tyco offered bottled water to the homes which had their wells tested, and is still providing bottled water to 126 recipients. For the 11 homes above the health advisory level, Tyco offered a water filtration system to clean the water before use. Seven accepted the filters, which Baron said were functioning as expected.
This spring, Tyco tested 129 wells, most of which were repeat tests but some of which were new. Of the 129, 71 revealed no contamination, 23 revealed PFAS below the health advisory level and one above the advisory level.
Marinette municipal water has tested and continues to test clean…
After Memorial Day, Tyco began testing surface water in ponds and ditches. This week, Tyco began testing sediment and groundwater, and will move on to storm water and soil testing, on and off site. — Kuhn, 2018
Tyco has been providing bottled water to residents with wells in the affected area and will offer to install granular activated charcoal filtration systems for residents with wells above the EPA’s 70 ppt limit. Long term remediation strategies include digging new, deeper wells, or extending municipal water to the Town of Peshtigo. But additional investigation and analysis will be needed before a long-term plan can be developed.
Tyco Fire Products has promised to continue holding public meetings to keep the public informed.
Additional Resources:
- Tyco Discusses Well Testing Results
- CSWAB — PFAS Associated with Firefighting Foam Use
- Town of Peshtigo Preliminary Drinking Water Results – March 7, 2018
Media Coverage
- Contaminants detected in Marinette groundwater
- Questions arise after Tyco reveals contaminated well results Tuesday
- Wisconsin DNR developing rules on toxic groundwater chemicals
- Tyco updates city on contamination
- Firefighting foam poses toxic threat to Green Bay
- New evidence of groundwater pollution turning up near Tyco plant in Marinette
Full citations are available on the second page of the full contamination site tracker. We ask for your additions, changes, questions and comments be sent to pfasproject@gmail.com.