68 “I think there’s great value in visualizing it,” Johnson said. “One of the things we really wanted to visualize is the drinking water results.” Communicating and Collaborating With the help of the PFAS data viewer, the Wisconsin DNR team can map contamination sites as well as locations where remediation efforts are under way. By visualizing and integrating this extensive location-based data, the team can effectively plan strategies, allocate resources, and share information. Initially, Wisconsin DNR focused on remediation sites while conducting statewide sampling of surface water and wastewater treatment plants. Staff aim to broaden their understanding of fish and wildlife contamination by sharing data and collaborating with neighboring states. “If we’re studying a specific fish, we share that data with the other states and they share their data,” Johnson said. Wisconsin DNR led the effort to study the smelt found in Lake Superior and issued a public advisory not to eat more than one meal of fish per month because of high levels of PFAS. That finding was confirmed by studies conducted in Michigan and Minnesota, and those states followed up with their own warnings. One of Wisconsin DNR’s primary objectives is to ensure effective communication with the public. Through the Wisconsin PFAS Interactive Data Viewer, the team aims to provide a user-friendly interface for essential information. Anyone can navigate the PFAS data viewer to determine if there is any contamination within their area. Stakeholders, including those interested in detailed raw data or the history of a contaminated site, can delve deeper. “We had a design goal of keeping it as intuitive as possible, yet as information rich as possible so the learning curve would be minimal,” Papez said, adding that the goal included “providing as much data as we could without it being overwhelming or requiring data science skills.” Bridging the Divide Wisconsin DNR received funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in 2023 to address emerging contaminants and ensure excellent water quality. Johnson and her team believe that tools such as the Wisconsin PFAS Interactive Data Viewer will play a crucial role in gaining stakeholder support to tackle PFAS, not only at the state level but also nationally. Waterways in and around Madison, Wisconsin, have shown signs of concerning PFAS levels coming from industrial sites.
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