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Community Water System · PWS WI2680238

Waukesha Water Utility

Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 70,718 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

70,718
People served
2,969
EPA violations
2,447
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 2,969 drinking-water violations at Waukesha Water Utility, 82% of them health-based - above the Wisconsin per-system average.

2,969
Total EPA violations on record
82%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
70,718
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Waukesha Water Utility

Waukesha Water Utility is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 70,718 residents in Waukesha, Wisconsin (Waukesha County) through 26,192 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 2,969 total violations for this system , of which 2,447 (82%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 42 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U, recorded in 1,301 violations (MCL, health-based). This system was sampled under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program and no PFAS compounds were detected above the minimum reporting level.

Across Wisconsin, EPA tracks 10,988 public water systems serving 5,131,439 people, with 285,161 cumulative violations and 58,688 health-based violations on record. About 72% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 26 violations. Statewide, 78 of 202 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (38.6%).

Waukesha Water Utility's 2,969 violations sit above the Wisconsin average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

Population Served
70,718
Total Violations
2,969
Health-Based Violations
2,447
Water Source
Surface Water

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

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

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Waukesha Water Utility.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID WI2680238 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Wisconsin Drinking Water Authority

Wisconsin DNR, Drinking Water and Groundwater is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Waukesha Water Utility under EPA-delegated authority.

Open WI regulator portal

Source: Wisconsin DNR, Drinking Water and Groundwater

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2023 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MCL 1,301 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 4000
2023 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MCL 1,146 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 4010
2023 Public Notice Other 35 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 7500
2011 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 7000
2002 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 3 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 4000
2002 Combined Uranium MR 3 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 4006
2002 Radium-228 MR 3 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 4030
2002 Radium-226 MR 3 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 4020
1997 Nitrate MR 2 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 1040
1994 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 1 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 2378
1994 Xylenes, Total MR 1 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 2955
1994 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 1 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 2969
1994 Vinyl chloride MR 1 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 2976
1994 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 1 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 2979
1994 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 1 SDWIS / WI2680238 / 2980

How Waukesha Water Utility Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Waukesha Water Utility Wisconsin avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 2,969 26 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 2,447 5.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection None 38.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 70,718 467 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 10,988 regulated public water systems in Wisconsin.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds ▼
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

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. This system serves 70,718 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Waukesha Water Utility serve? ▼
Waukesha Water Utility serves 70,718 people in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 26,192 service connections.
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.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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

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