Wisconsin Unlocks $125M to Fight PFAS Contamination

Bipartisan bills signed by Gov. Evers will fund local cleanup efforts and expand private well assistance.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:51pm

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A softly lit, photorealistic painting of a simple kitchen faucet, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation around the issue of water quality and safety.The new state funding aims to restore trust in Wisconsin's water supply and provide relief to families impacted by PFAS contamination.Madison Today

Governor Tony Evers has signed two bipartisan bills that will unlock $125 million in funding to help Wisconsin communities address PFAS contamination. The money will go towards a community grant program for municipalities to test, treat, and clean up PFAS, as well as expand the Well Compensation Grant Program to make more homeowners, businesses, schools, and childcare providers eligible for help replacing or treating contaminated private wells.

Why it matters

PFAS, often referred to as 'forever chemicals,' are linked to cancer and other health issues. This funding will provide critical resources to communities across Wisconsin that have been grappling with PFAS contamination in their water supplies, helping to ensure access to clean and safe drinking water.

The details

The $125 million in funding includes about $80 million for the community grant program to assist municipalities with PFAS testing, treatment, and cleanup. Another $35 million will expand the Well Compensation Grant Program, making more homeowners, businesses, schools, and childcare providers eligible for help replacing or treating contaminated private wells. Additional funding will support emergency bottled water distribution, PFAS research, and lab testing capacity. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will also receive $1.3 million and 10 new positions to oversee water resource protection, environmental management, and public communications.

  • On April 6, 2026, Governor Tony Evers signed the bipartisan bills unlocking the $125 million in funding.
  • The funding was set aside in the 2023-2025 state budget, but had been delayed for over two years prior to this action.

The players

Governor Tony Evers

The Governor of Wisconsin who signed the bipartisan bills to release the $125 million in PFAS funding.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

The state agency that will receive $1.3 million and 10 new positions to oversee water resource protection, environmental management, and public communications related to PFAS contamination.

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What they’re saying

“It's not a pipe dream to think Wisconsinites should be able to trust the water coming out of their tap. This will make a real difference for families living with the challenges of PFAS every day.”

— Governor Tony Evers

“The agency will work quickly to get funding to communities in need.”

— Karen Hyun, DNR Secretary

What’s next

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will begin distributing the $125 million in funding to municipalities and expanding the Well Compensation Grant Program to provide assistance to more homeowners, businesses, schools, and childcare providers affected by PFAS contamination.

The takeaway

This bipartisan effort to unlock significant funding to address PFAS contamination in Wisconsin's water supplies represents an important step in ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water for communities across the state. The investment in testing, treatment, and private well assistance will have a tangible impact on the lives of residents who have been grappling with the health and environmental challenges posed by these 'forever chemicals'.