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Marathon County explores $12M regional treatment plant to remove PFAS from landfill leachate
Summary
Solid Waste staff told the ERC the county faces growing PFAS constraints on leachate disposal, is evaluating reverse osmosis and other treatments and has submitted a Clean Water Fund intent to apply; a regional reverse-osmosis facility could cost about $12 million.
Marathon County’s solid waste director told the Environmental Resource Committee April 29 that rising concern about PFAS compounds in landfill leachate is forcing county staff to evaluate on-site treatment options and regional cooperation to secure long-term disposal capacity.
David Haggenbutcher, director of the Solid Waste Department, summarized the situation: the county is a passive receiver of PFAS from common household products that accumulate in landfill waste and concentrate in leachate. Historically local treatment plants and a now-closed paper mill accepted Marathon County leachate, but several plants have declined or signaled limits amid PFAS testing and regulatory caution.
“That’s the challenge we’re running into — finding a treatment plant that will help us,” Haggenbutcher said. He told ERC staff currently haul about 10 million gallons of leachate per year to two receiving plants under daily load limits; hauling costs and limited treatment capacity constrain operations and create risk if receiving utilities withdraw service.
To respond, staff have evaluated treatment technologies including reverse osmosis (RO), ion exchange, granular activated carbon (GAC) and foam fractionation. Haggenbutcher said reverse osmosis would allow on-site full treatment and discharge to an infiltration basin but carries higher capital costs; simpler approaches would still require hauling spent media or concentrates off site.
County staff produced a preliminary business case for a regional RO facility sized at about 100,000 gallons per day and estimated capital costs near $12 million, with annual operating expenses thereafter. Haggenbutcher said the county submitted a draft application to Wisconsin’s Clean Water Fund (state revolving fund) and an intent to apply in October to access principal forgiveness funds targeted at emerging contaminants; he estimated Marathon County’s maximum potential principal forgiveness for this project could be roughly $2 million.
Committee members discussed staffing, regional partners and financing. Supervisor Groll asked whether county staff have the technical expertise to operate an RO facility; Haggenbutcher replied the county would likely need three dedicated staff members but that RO is a proven technology and county personnel could operate it with training. Gerry Gibbs and other supervisors emphasized exploring regional partners (Portage, Shawano and others) and revenue streams — including potential tipping-fee adjustments tied to regional agreements and future renewable natural gas royalties — to spread cost and preserve capacity.
Haggenbutcher recommended early action because state and federal attention on PFAS is growing: if local treatment utilities adopt minimization plans or refuse leachate, Marathon County could face sudden loss of disposal capacity. He outlined a proposed timeline: a public comment period and hearing in May–June, ERC consideration in July and a County Board resolution needed to complete a Clean Water Fund application in the fall; construction could begin in 2026 with operations in 2027 under an accelerated schedule.
Ending The ERC did not take a final vote on a funding commitment; members directed staff to pursue public outreach and to return with a detailed business plan and draft application materials for the committee and County Board to consider.
