The Department of Natural Resources is asking all water systems to begin reporting detectable "forever chemical" contaminations in drinking water, under new federal guidelines with limits far lower than the state's standards. 

In a statement Friday, the agency said that systems should also start thinking about next steps when lower levels of contamination are discovered. 

"It is also recommended that they work with the DNR to determine if additional sampling is warranted and assess voluntary actions that could reduce PFAS exposure to customers," the email said. 

The agency is still reviewing the science used by the Environmental Protection Agency to develop the new health action limits but is still recommending that communities use them to inform their customers of what is in their drinking water. 

Although actions on the EPA limits aren't required, the department is supporting them. 

"The DNR supports these recommendations and will work with any water system that reaches out to coordinate on following these recommendations," said Sarah Hoye, the communications director for the department. 

The new EPA health recommendations, which are not enforceable but meant to protect human health, are: 

The limits fall well below the standards recently passed by the Legislature for PFOA and PFOS, which are two of the most common in the PFAS family. The Wisconsin rules, which are set to go into effect on Aug. 1, are 70 parts per trillion for drinking water, either for the individual compounds or in combination. 

The EPA limits also fall below the health limits recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, which the DNR said they are still using as guidelines for communities in terms of mandatory informing. Those limits are 20 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS, both combined or individual compounds. 

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PFAS — or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a family of man-made chemicals used for their water- and stain-resistant qualities in products like clothing and carpet, nonstick cookware, packaging and firefighting foam. The family includes 5,000 compounds, which are persistent, remaining both in the environment and the human body over time.  

The chemicals have been linked to types of kidney and testicular cancers, lower birth weights, harm to immune and reproductive systems, altered hormone regulation and altered thyroid hormones. The chemicals enter the human body largely through drinking water.

The compounds have been found in a number of Wisconsin communities over the last several years, including Marinette, Peshtigo, Wausau, Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Madison, Mosinee and the town of Campbell at high levels.

Many other communities participating in voluntary testing by the DNR have had lower levels that still fall above the federal recommendations. The DNR's new recommendation means many communities may now need to confront the question of how to deal with PFAS, even at very low levels. 

Wisconsin has more than 1,000 drinking water systems, serving about 69% of Wisconsin residents, according to the DNR. The majority of those have not yet tested or released results regarding PFAS. 

Peg Sheaffer, the director of communications and development for Midwest Environmental Advocates, said the DNR's recommendation is based on the most current science, and it's important to keep residents informed. 

"Everyone has the right to know about the chemicals they might be exposed to and the risks associated with that exposure," she said in an email. "Our understanding of the health risks of PFAS exposure is still evolving. In the meantime, state and local leaders should step up and do more than the bare minimum to protect the health of Wisconsinites."

Milwaukee is one city that has already been testing for and informing residents of the levels of PFAS in drinking water since 2016, even if levels fall below recommended limits. 

"The public has a right to know what’s in their water so they can make informed choices. We feel it’s our responsibility and just a fundamental part of good government to be transparent," said Michelle Natarajan, Water Quality Manager for Milwaukee Water Works.

"Transparency is also an essential part of finding solutions to complex societal issues — it’s difficult to solve any problem unless you’re sharing basic information with everyone, especially those who might be impacted." 

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on Twitter at @SchulteLaura.