Is Waukesha Water Utility water safe to drink?

Waukesha Water Utility (PWS ID: WI2680238) has 2969 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. EPA SDWIS lists this system's service population as 70,718 people using Surface Water sources.

How many people does Waukesha Water Utility serve?

EPA SDWIS reports that Waukesha Water Utility serves 70,718 people (this public water system's service population, not the municipal population of Waukesha or any other city). It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 26,192 service connections. The operator address is listed in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

What type of violations does Waukesha Water Utility have?

Waukesha Water Utility has 2,969 total violations: 2,447 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 42 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.

Has PFAS been detected in Waukesha Water Utility water?

No. Waukesha Water Utility was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.

What water source does Waukesha Water Utility use?

Waukesha Water Utility uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.

Where does this data come from?

All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Where does Waukesha Water Utility sit among U.S. public water systems?

According to EPA SDWIS population_served among sitemap-advertised systems (serving 500+), Waukesha Water Utility ranks #744 of 29,740 by people served, and #7 of 744 in Wisconsin. Ordinals use population_served DESC among systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). See /methodology#corpus-placement.

How does Waukesha Water Utility's violation count compare nationally?

Waukesha Water Utility has 2,969 recorded EPA SDWIS violations, fewer than 0% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500 or more people nationwide (the same sitemap cohort used for the corpus-placement ranking above). 100% of that cohort has fewer violations than Waukesha Water Utility. A system can have zero recorded violations and still be actively monitored, and a high violation count often reflects a system that reports thoroughly, not necessarily one with worse water.

States → Wisconsin

Community Water System · PWS WI2680238

Waukesha Water Utility

Operator location Waukesha, Wisconsin - 82% of 2,969 violations are health-based (upper-third health share (> 23%)); surface water source; 70,718 served per SDWIS.

Compiled by PlainWater · May 15, 2026

70,718
People served (this PWS) Larger third of systems: 2,969
EPA violations (this PWS) Upper third of systems: 2,447
Health-based (this PWS) Upper third by health-based share: No PFAS
UCMR5 (this PWS) Tested, none detected

Follow published updates (RSS)

Waukesha Water Utility standing, high SDWIS violation third

82% of 2,969 recorded violations are health-based - upper-third health share (> 23%). Corpus terciles use 29,740 systems serving 500+ (the sitemap cohort). Health-based share 82% is upper-third health share (> 23%). UCMR5: UCMR5 tested, none detected. Population rank #744 of 29,740 among systems serving 500+.

The verdict

Waukesha Water Utility sits in the upper third of the sitemap cohort by violation count (2,969), so the tables below sample a dense compliance trail rather than a near-clean ledger. Population served is large (70,718; larger served population (> 3,309)), so household exposure scale sits behind the violation mix. Health-based share is 82% - most of this ledger is MCL or treatment-technique exceedance. UCMR5 tested this system and reported no PFAS above the minimum reporting level.

#744 of 29,740
Population · /systems: #7 of 744
Population · WI: 2,969
Total EPA violations on record: 82%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)

Population ordinals match the sitemap cohort (systems serving 500+, population_served DESC). See methodology · corpus placement.

Water Safety Score

0/100

Waukesha Water Utility

Based on EPA SDWIS violation history and UCMR5 PFAS testing only, not water taste, odor, infrastructure age, or contaminants outside the federally tracked set.

Health-based violations F

2,447

EPA SDWIS health-based violations on record (MCL, MRDL, treatment technique)

Monitoring & reporting violations F

522

Non-health SDWIS violations (monitoring, reporting, and other compliance)

PFAS contamination N/A

Tested, none detected

Highest PFAS compound level detected in UCMR5 testing

System Details

System Type: Community
Owner Type: Local
Connections: 26,192
County: Waukesha
School/Daycare: No
MCL Violations: 2,447
Monitoring Violations: 42
Treatment Tech Violations: 0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant	Category	Count	Latest
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U	MCL	1,301	2023
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)	MCL	1,146	2023
Public Notice	Other	35	2023
Lead and Copper Rule	MR	4	1992
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U	MR	3	2002
Combined Uranium	MR	3	2002
Radium-228	MR	3	2002
Coliform (TCR)	MR	3	1992
Radium-226	MR	3	2002
Consumer Confidence Rule	Other	2	2011
Nitrate	MR	2	1997
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	MR	1	1994
Xylenes, Total	MR	1	1994
p-Dichlorobenzene	MR	1	1994
Vinyl chloride	MR	1	1994
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	1	1994
1,2-Dichloroethane	MR	1	1994
Carbon tetrachloride	MR	1	1994
1,2-Dichloropropane	MR	1	1994
Trichloroethylene	MR	1	1994
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	MR	1	1994
Toluene	MR	1	1994
Styrene	MR	1	1994
1,1-Dichloroethylene	MR	1	1994
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene	MR	1	1994
Benzene	MR	1	1994
Tetrachloroethylene	MR	1	1994
CHLOROBENZENE	MR	1	1994
Ethylbenzene	MR	1	1994
1,1,1-Trichloroethane	MR	1	1994

Violation Count vs. the National Corpus

Waukesha Water Utility has 2,969 recorded EPA violations, 100% of the 29,740 public water systems serving 500+ people nationwide carry fewer, and 0% carry more. 82% of this system's own violations are health-based (2,447 of 2,969), and it ranks #744 of 29,740 by population served among that same cohort.

EPA violations vs. the national water-system corpus

Public water systems serving 500+ people (EPA SDWIS)

2,969 Higher than most more violations than 99%+ of 29,740 water systems

the national water-system corpus, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more water systems. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source EPA SDWIS · 2026-05-15

How many violations vs. how serious, among peer systems

Waukesha Water Utility plotted against 29 peer public water systems (500+ people served), by total violation count (x) and the share of those violations that are health-based (y). The crosshair sits at this sample's own median on each axis. A high violation count does not automatically mean a serious record: most monitoring and reporting violations are minor, not health-based.

30 public water systems (500+ people served), EPA SDWIS current release.

How to read this

Each dot is one public water system; the highlighted dot is Waukesha Water Utility. A system to the right has more recorded violations; a system higher up has a larger share of those violations classified health-based rather than monitoring or reporting.

Rare but serious: few violations, but most of them are health-based.
Frequent, mostly paperwork: many violations, but mostly monitoring or reporting, not health-based.
Clean record: below-median on both counts, the tinted corner.

View all 30 systems as a list

City of Ballinger: 372 violations, 85% health-based
Waukesha Water Utility: 2,969 violations, 82% health-based (this system)
Nooksack Valley Water Association: 16 violations, 31% health-based
Montgomery Co RWD 12: 7 violations, 29% health-based
Irvin Water District #6: 11 violations, 27% health-based
Ticonderoga WD: 47 violations, 26% health-based
Pine Valley Plantation: 37 violations, 24% health-based
McLouth, City Of: 29 violations, 17% health-based
Kipling Oaks 1: 25 violations, 16% health-based
South Deerfield Water Supply District: 96 violations, 16% health-based
Sunset Ridge Water District: 82 violations, 15% health-based
Orange Water Dept: 136 violations, 14% health-based
Mount Pleasant Water Sys #1: 167 violations, 11% health-based
Lake Gibson Estates: 42 violations, 2% health-based
Benson Culinary Improvement District: 212 violations, 1% health-based
Conemaugh Twp Muni Auth: 567 violations, 1% health-based
Miccosukee Service Plaza: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Brazoria - Fort Bend Counties MUD 3: 0 violations, 0% health-based
Tanglewilde Thompson Place 600: 2 violations, 0% health-based
Center Water Co: 5 violations, 0% health-based
Spring Mills Elem School/Hvs: 9 violations, 0% health-based
Great Bend Industrial Park: 14 violations, 0% health-based
Glen Park Village: 19 violations, 0% health-based
Camp Is-Sho-Da: 22 violations, 0% health-based
Hamilton: 33 violations, 0% health-based
Town of Welaka: 54 violations, 0% health-based
Township of Blairstown Dpw: 61 violations, 0% health-based
McIntosh Water & Fire Pro Authority: 71 violations, 0% health-based
Clarkdale Municipal Water System: 114 violations, 0% health-based
Eureka Water Association: 273 violations, 0% health-based

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 406 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
PFDoA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	8/15/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBS	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	8/15/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/15/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	8/15/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/15/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpS	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	8/15/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFEESA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMPA	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
ADONA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	8/15/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFUnA	8/15/2023	<2.00 ppt	2.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFDoA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
NFDHA	8/15/2023	<20.00 ppt	20.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOA	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHpA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxS	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFNA	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFBA	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFOS	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFHxA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFPeS	8/15/2023	<4.00 ppt	4.00 ppt	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/15/2023	<6.00 ppt	6.00 ppt	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	8/15/2023	<5.00 ppt	5.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/15/2023	<7.00 ppt	7.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFTA	8/15/2023	<8.00 ppt	8.00 ppt	Not Detected
PFMBA	8/15/2023	<3.00 ppt	3.00 ppt	Not Detected

Health-based violations on Waukesha Water Utility

2,447 health-based rows in the tables above map to MCL or treatment-technique exceedances, verify each contaminant code on the federal SDWIS report for WI2680238.

EPA SDWIS · PWS WI2680238 WI primacy agency

Sources: EPA SDWIS · Wisconsin DNR, Drinking Water and Groundwater

Nationwide peers

2,969 violations · 70,718 served: nearest cross-state SDWIS matches.

Cross-state systems with comparable violation load

Nearest cross-state community systems (500+ served) by total SDWIS violations on record.

4 peers

Cross-state systems with similar served population

Nearest cross-state systems by EPA SDWIS population_served (same 500+ sitemap gate).

4 peers

What to do with Waukesha Water Utility

Use this system's EPA-reported record as a starting filter, not a final verdict.

See how every tracked system in Wisconsin compares on the same EPA violation measures. Wisconsin systems
Check whether PFAS was detected at this system under UCMR5 testing. PFAS guide
Find and compare another public water system by name or PWSID. Search systems

EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 figures are informational only, not a substitute for a certified lab test of your own tap water.

Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater

Compiled by PlainWater, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Process · May 15, 2026

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.