Wisconsin
French Island
Your water system exceeds federal PFAS limits. We recommend taking action.
- Population served
- 53K
- Systems tested
- 1
- Compounds detected
- 29
- Above federal limits
- 2
Source: EPA UCMR 5 · Samples collected 2023–2026
What was found in French Island’s water
2 PFAS compounds exceed federal drinking water limits in French Island’s water supply.
LA CROSSE WATERWORKS
Serves 53K people · GW
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
This compound is monitored under UCMR 5 but has no enforceable EPA drinking water limit yet.
About PFAS contamination in French Island
## Summary French Island's drinking water received a D grade, meaning the municipal water supply serving approximately 4,200 residents contains PFAS chemicals that exceed federal safety limits. Two compounds — PFOS at 4.9 parts per trillion and PFOA at 4.77 parts per trillion — both surpass the EPA's maximum limit of 4 parts per trillion for each, coming in at 1.23 times and 1.19 times the federal threshold, respectively. The contamination source has been identified as the La Crosse Regional Airport, where aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) used in firefighting operations is believed to have contributed to the contamination.
## What the data shows Testing of the La Crosse Waterworks system detected multiple PFAS compounds, with at least five reporting measurable concentrations. Beyond the two compounds exceeding federal limits, PFHxS was detected at 4.59 parts per trillion — below its 10 parts per trillion federal limit — and PFBA was detected at 12.71 parts per trillion, though no federal limit currently exists for that compound. PFHxA was also detected at 3.7 parts per trillion, likewise without a federal limit. Several other compounds were tested but returned no reported concentration.
## What residents should know Residents served by La Crosse Waterworks — including those in the Town of Campbell connected to the La Crosse municipal supply — should consider using a certified water filter rated for PFAS removal; NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis systems and NSF/ANSI 53 activated carbon filters are commonly recommended for reducing PFAS levels. The Town of Campbell has an existing settlement connecting residents to the municipal supply, so affected households should confirm their connection status directly with their utility. Contact La Crosse Waterworks for the most current testing results and any updates on remediation efforts.
About this summary: Narrative text on this page was drafted by an AI model (claude-sonnet-4-6) from EPA UCMR 5 data and reviewed before publication. The numeric data above is reported by water utilities directly to the EPA. If you spot an error, email data@checkyourwater.org.
What French Island residents can do
French Island's water exceeds federal PFAS limits. We recommend residents take action:
- Install a reverse osmosis (RO) or activated-carbon water filter certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or 58 for PFAS reduction. RO systems remove the widest range of PFAS compounds.
- Do NOT boil your water to remove PFAS — boiling concentrates them.
- Request your most recent Consumer Confidence Report from your utility and ask when PFAS treatment will be installed.
- Contact your local elected officials and water utility board to demand a remediation timeline.
- Get independent water testing through services like Tap Score (mytapscore.com) if you want to verify your in-home levels.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about PFAS exposure — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or have young children.
Primary contamination source: La Crosse Regional Airport (AFFF)
Settlement information: Town of Campbell residents connected to La Crosse municipal supply
How French Island compares
French Island is one of 2 communities we track in Wisconsin where PFAS levels exceed federal limits.
Where this data comes from
- Testing program: EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle (UCMR 5)
- Testing period: 2023–2026
- Federal limits: EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) finalized April 2024
- Methodology: Read how we calculate grades
- Raw EPA data: EPA UCMR Occurrence Data
This data reflects EPA testing. Your water utility may have more recent results — contact them directly for the most current information.