Campbell to contract with Davy Engineering to study solutions to PFAS contamination

TOWN OF CAMPBELL, Wis. (WKBT) — The town of Campbell will contract with Davy Engineering in La Crosse to conduct a feasibility study for long-term solutions to PFAS contamination of residents’ wells.
The Town Council decided unanimously to engage the La Crosse consulting firm during a special Zoom meeting convened Thursday to discuss the issue.
Town Chairman Josh Johnson said he discussed the study possibility with Davy Chairman and President Mike Davy, who told him the company had prepared reports on the PFAS issue in the area between 1998 and 2002.
The study, budgeted for up to $25,000, would seek solutions to the PFAS contamination of more than 200 private wells in Campbell, blamed largely on firefighting foam used to fight fires and conduct firefighting drills at the La Crosse Regional Airport.
Council members agreed that enlisting Davy for the study makes the most sense because the company’s previous work laid the groundwork, with much of the information just needing updating.
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” because they take so long to break down, are linked to infertility, thyroid disease and cancer. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is testing more wells in the area.
Last month, the city of La Crosse submitted its interim site investigation into PFAS contamination on French Island to the DNR, which is reviewing the 123-page report.
Pending solutions, the DNR and private companies are providing many residents in the Campbell with bottled water.
Although two La Crosse wells near the airport also are contaminated, the discovery of PFAS in so many other wells in and around Campbell has raised concerns that there might be other sources.

Campbell’s website has extensive information about the contamination and PFAS.

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