Water Quality Information and Reports

Annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

Each year, Green Bay Water gives customers in the City of Green Bay a Consumer Confidence Report, also known as an annual drinking water quality report. This report provides City of Green Bay residents with information about their drinking water quality.

When is the report published?
Reports are posted on gbwater.org each year by July 1st.

How do I get a copy if I did not receive my report?

You can find it right here online or contact us to get a paper copy.

What type of information is in the report?

The source of the drinking water

Regulated contaminants found in drinking water
The potential health effects of any contaminant detected in violation of an EPA health standard, accompanied by an account of the system's actions to restore safe drinking water
An educational statement for vulnerable populations about avoiding Cryptosporidium
Phone numbers of additional sources of information, including the water system contact

Does Green Bay have “hard” water?

The Green Bay Water hardness is 130 mg/L, which is approximately 7.5 grains per gallon. We measure it mg/L, but people selling water softeners deal with the grains per gallon.

Hardness is a personal preference; it’s relative. Water softener salespeople will tell you that you have hard water and need a softener; the best thing we can tell you transparently is: we don’t have soft or hard water.

Hard water would be 200mg/L, and soft water is less than 70mg/L. We are somewhere in the middle.

We test hardness weekly in our lab. Lake Michigan is consistently 130 mg/L, give or take 4-6 mg/L. Average between 125-135.

What makes water hard? It’s all about the calcium magnesium that naturally occurs in the water. Groundwater is generally very hard because of the extra calcium and magnesium. Surface water is usually less hard. Lake Michigan = surface water.

Need a certified water lab test?

Click here

Does Green Bay Water have PFAS?

You might have seen recent news reports about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (together abbreviated as PFAS). These are a class of human-made chemicals typically associated with non-stick coatings, waterproofing, stain-proofing treatments and fire-fighting foams. The Federal EPA or the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has yet to set a standard or regulation for these contaminants. However, Green Bay Water began testing for PFAS in 2018 and has not seen a concerning amount of this manufactured substance based on current research. Given Green Bay Water Utility’s freshwater source in the depths of Lake Michigan (a mile from the shore of Kewaunee and 60 feet deep!) our levels continue to remain low. Our water quality team is closely watching the science as this topic evolves and more information becomes available.

For more information on PFAS:
American Water Works Association: https://www.awwa.org/Resources-Tools/Resource-Topics/PFAS
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/PFAS_FactSheet.html
Wisconsin DNR: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/PFAS

6/15/22: What’s going on with PFAS? An Update from Green Bay Water

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

BACKGROUND

Green Bay Water is Wisconsin’s third-largest drinking water provider, and we are stewards of public health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates drinking water by establishing criteria we must follow, ensuring that either your water is safe—or, if it isn't safe—that consumers are told so before consumption. Green Bay Water meets or exceeds all regulatory standards in the United States and Wisconsin.

In recent years, a chemical group called PFAS has been linked to negative health effects. PFAS is heavily used in manufacturing and still found in a lot of fast-food wrappers (like the ones tested here). Major PFAS producers in the United States agreed in 2006 to phase out their usage, but still produce them overseas, and then import them to be used in products stateside. Let’s zero in on the four individual PFAS family compounds that are specifically mentioned in this latest notice from the EPA: PFOS, PFOA, GenX and PFBS:

PFOS – key ingredient in stain repellant, Scotchgard; used in surface coatings for carpet, furniture, and waterproof clothing
PFOA – makes nonstick coatings for cookware; best known of these coatings, PTFE or Teflon™, is made from PFOA and may contain some traces of PFOA. It was also used in production of carpets, upholstery, clothing, floor wax, and sealants
GenX – was developed as a replacement for PFOA once PFOA began being associated with negative health effects; however, GenX has now been linked to the same and health effects as PFOA, according to the EPA.
PFBS – wetter in industrial processes and in water-resistant or stain-resistant coatings on textiles, carpets, and paper; 3M Company is reportedly its leading producer

WHAT’S NEW

On June 15, 2022, the United States EPA made a health advisory (HAL) announcement with new number for PFAS. HALs are non-enforceable; rather, they provide technical information that guides the officials to develop monitoring plans, determine treatment solutions, and create policies. The EPA has not yet stopped polluters from discharging PFAS, but they plan to set an enforceable limit (MCL—maximum contaminant level) by the end of 2023.

THE NEW NUMBERS
The HAL considers the effect of a lifetime of consumption at the levels listed below.

PFAS Compound EPA Lifetime HAL Green Bay Water as of 5/4/22

PFOA .004 parts per trillion 3.2 parts per trillion

PFOS .02 parts per trillion 1.91 parts per trillion

GenX 10 parts per trillion Non-detectable

PFBS 2,000 parts per trillion .73 parts per trillion

WHAT WE’RE DOING

Green Bay Water is a leader in the drinking water industry, and we have been testing for these levels since 2018 because we saw PFAS as an emerging concern. Here is what we intend to do to continue our stewardship of public health:

Conduct monthly PFAS tests
Do everything in our power to ensure we always meet safe drinking water standards
Follow the rigorous scientific framework of the EPA and DNR for best water quality practices
Remain transparent to the public and welcome questions and comments about water quality
Collaborate with the Brown County Health Department as our regional health authority

WHAT YOU CAN DO

According to EPA, PFAS contaminates the blood of 99% of Americans and pollutes most of the world and have been called unavoidable as they are “everywhere,” specifically on former military bases and airports where PFAS firefighting foam has been used for years. Considering that, health experts advise:

Do not switch to plastic bottled water (Consumer Reports tested popular brands and found PFAS)
Stay away from waterproof /stain-resistant textiles and clothing that contain PFAS
Stop using PFAS-containing food-contact materials such as take-out containers
1. TIP: transfer food out of packaging as soon as you get it. Avoid reheating food in takeout containers, because both heat and time increase the likelihood of PFAS transferring from wrappers to food.
2. Avoid microwave popcorn which relies on PFAS to create the nonstick surface inside the bag
Most nonstick cookware is made with PTFE, a type of PFAS, and should be avoided
If you use a water filter, make sure to replace it on-time to reduce contamination build up
Additionally, don’t assume your home water filter removes PFAS; do some research on the filter you have.
Avoiding water-resistant products and products with PTFE or “fluoro-” in the ingredients can help limit exposure; the Environmental Working Group database identifies which shampoos, dental floss, makeup, and other personal-care products do and do not contain PFAS

Please reach out to us if you have any questions by contacting Director of Communications Andrea Hay at Andrea.hay@greenbaywi.gov

1/4/2023: Concerned about today’s “PFAS Plume” Headlines? Read on!

Wednesday, January 4, 2022

Our Lake Michigan source water is not in close proximity to the area where samples were taken for the tests highlighted in this report; which—despite being published this week—was created by data taken from samples nearly two years ago.

You may have seen a recent news headline this week (the first week of January 2023) saying that there was a "toxic PFAS chemical plume detected in Green Bay." We understand that seeing a headline like this can be concerning and may cause you to question your drinking water's safety. We want to assure all residents of the City of Green Bay, Ashwaubenon, Wrightstown, Scott, and Hobart that our Green Bay Water tap water meets all the current safe drinking water regulations. The samples for this report were taken nearly two years ago, in June 2021. Additionally, the Green Bay Water that is provided to our customers does not originate from the area where the samples were taken.

We take our drinking water's safety very seriously and want to assure our customers that we have multiple safeguards in place to ensure that the water we provide meets all safety standards. Our water is regularly tested, and we follow all guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that it is safe for consumption. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to address any questions or concerns you may have.