State Hub
Wisconsin Water Quality
493
Utilities in database
4.1M
Residents served
1
With open violations
189
PFAS monitored
Quick Answer
Wisconsin public drinking water is served by 493 EPA-tracked water systems, providing service to approximately 4.1 million residents through public utilities. 1 of those systems currently have open health-based violations on record in the EPA federal database. 189 systems have official PFAS monitoring records from the EPA UCMR 5 program (2023–2025). About 38% of WI residents use private wells, which fall outside federal utility compliance monitoring.
1 Wisconsin water system has an open health-based violation recorded in EPA SDWIS. An open violation means a contaminant exceeded a federal limit and the violation has not been formally resolved in the federal database. Check individual utility pages for current status.
Open Health-Based Violations in Wisconsin
Records sourced from EPA SDWIS. A record may be under review or resolved at the utility level but not yet updated in federal records. Water Utility Report does not determine whether water is safe to drink.
Drinking Water in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has 493 community water systems serving approximately 4.1 million residents. Primary water sources include groundwater. The most commonly reported contaminants include arsenic, lead, disinfection byproducts. 38% of Wisconsin residents rely on private wells. DNR holds primary enforcement authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Highest Risk Utilities
Wisconsin systems with open health-based violations in EPA records.
Safest Large Utilities
Wisconsin systems with no open health violations serving 10,000+ residents.
Utilities in Wisconsin
376–400 of 493Shell Lake Waterworks
WI8660304 · 950 served
Laona Sanitary Dist
WI7210108 · 950 served
Paddock Lake Waterworks
WI2300146 · 945 served
Rib Lake Waterworks
WI8610126 · 945 served
Siren Waterworks
WI8070311 · 941 served
Iron Ridge Waterworks
WI1140150 · 937 served
Dresser Waterworks
WI6490336 · 936 served
Owen Waterworks
WI6100334 · 936 served
Plainfield Waterworks
WI4700268 · 924 served
Shiocton Utilities
WI4450415 · 921 served
Milltown Waterworks
WI6490339 · 915 served
Centuria Waterworks
WI6490332 · 900 served
Lone Rock Waterworks
WI1530061 · 895 served
Elk Mound Waterworks
WI6170264 · 895 served
Montreal Waterworks
WI8260121 · 887 served
Biron Water Utility
WI7720171 · 879 served
Arena Waterworks
WI1250073 · 877 served
Brandon Waterworks
WI4200402 · 872 served
Allenton Sanitary District
WI2670104 · 860 served
Hillcrest Estates Mhp
WI6180285 · 850 served
Necedah Waterworks
WI7290130 · 844 served
Highland Waterworks
WI1250080 · 842 served
Dorchester Waterworks
WI6100326 · 834 served
Birnamwood Waterworks
WI4590449 · 832 served
Arlington Waterworks
WI1110093 · 823 served
Key Contaminant Concerns in Wisconsin
These contaminants appear most frequently in Wisconsin utility records or pose elevated risk in this region based on EPA data.
Lead
Lead is a naturally occurring heavy metal that was widely used in plumbing infrastructure until it was banned for new installations in 1986. An estimated 9.2 million lead service lines still connect homes to public water mains across the United States, along with millions of homes with lead solder in their internal plumbing. Critically, a utility's water quality report can show zero detected lead at the treatment plant while your specific tap still delivers elevated lead — because the contamination happens inside the distribution system and your home's plumbing, not at the source.
EPA limit: 15 ppb (action level)
DBPs
When utilities add chlorine to water to kill pathogens, it reacts with dissolved organic matter — leaves, algae, soil — to produce disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Over 600 DBPs have been identified. The EPA regulates two groups: total trihalomethanes (TTHMs, including chloroform) and haloacetic acids (HAA5). DBP levels tend to be highest in surface water systems and in warm months when organic matter is elevated.
EPA limit: 80 µg/L (TTHMs) / 60 µg/L (HAA5)
Arsenic
Arsenic (As) occurs naturally in rock and soil, dissolving into groundwater through natural weathering processes. Inorganic arsenic — the form found in drinking water — is a known human carcinogen. The western United States has particularly arsenic-rich geological formations, but elevated levels have been found in 48 states. Arsenic is tasteless and odorless.
EPA limit: 10 ppb
City Water Reports in Wisconsin
Tap water quality pages for Wisconsin cities — violations, PFAS records, utility profiles, and official source links.
Independent Water Testing
Find a certified lab in Wisconsin
Utility compliance records show what water systems report to the EPA. An independent test from a certified laboratory confirms what's actually in your tap water. Wisconsin labs can test for PFAS, lead, nitrates, bacteria, and dozens of other contaminants.
Explore Water Quality in Wisconsin
Shell Lake Waterworks
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Laona Sanitary Dist
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
Paddock Lake Waterworks
Violation history, PFAS records, and official source links
PFAS monitoring records — Wisconsin
189 water systems in Wisconsin with EPA UCMR 5 records
Active drinking water violations
1 open health-based violation on record — view official EPA SDWIS data
Lead in Wisconsin drinking water
State-specific lead data, violation utilities, and testing guidance
PFAS in Wisconsin drinking water
State-specific PFAS data, MCL context, and treatment options
Certified water testing labs in Wisconsin
Labs certified for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, and bacteria testing
Water treatment options
Reverse osmosis, activated carbon, and filtration guides with cost ranges
Data sources and methodology
How WaterUtilityReport.com sources and validates official EPA data
Common Questions About Wisconsin Drinking Water
Does Wisconsin drinking water have PFAS?
189 Wisconsin water systems have EPA UCMR 5 PFAS monitoring records (2023–2025)
Which Wisconsin water utilities have open violations?
1 systems have open health-based violations in EPA SDWIS — search for your utility
How do I test my water in Wisconsin?
State-certified labs for PFAS (EPA 533/537.1), lead, nitrate, and bacteria testing
What treatment removes PFAS from WI tap water?
Reverse osmosis removes PFAS, lead, arsenic, and nitrates — cost, maintenance, and NSF certification explained
What do Wisconsin PFAS records tell me about my water?
EPA limits, health context, and what UCMR 5 detection above MRL means for your water
How is Wisconsin water quality data sourced here?
EPA SDWIS violations, UCMR 5 PFAS records, and CCR data — sources, accuracy notes, and limitations
Wisconsin Water FAQs
Data sources: Utility compliance and violation data from EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System). PFAS monitoring records from EPA UCMR 5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5, 2023–2025). Contaminant data from EPA and ATSDR public references. This page summarizes public records — it is not a compliance determination. Methodology →
Last updated: 2026-04-19