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APPLETON WATERWORKS

PWS ID: WI4450333 · APPLETON, Wisconsin 54911-4799

APPLETON WATERWORKS serves 74,511 people in APPLETON, Wisconsin using Surface Water water sources. It has 51 recorded EPA violations, including 3 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (1 compound found).

Water Quality Snapshot: APPLETON WATERWORKS

APPLETON WATERWORKS is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 74,511 residents in APPLETON, Wisconsin (Outagamie County) through 25,221 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 51 total violations for this system , of which 3 (6%) 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 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), recorded in 9 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 0.0059 ppt. PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

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. APPLETON WATERWORKS's 51 violations sit above the Wisconsin average. Statewide, 78 of 202 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (38.6%). All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

1 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
74,511
Total Violations
51
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
25,221
County
Outagamie
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
3
Monitoring Violations
42
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 9 2013
TTHM MR 5 2006
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 2023
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MCL 3 2008
Public Notice Other 1 2008
Endothall MR 1 1998
2,4,5-TP MR 1 1998
Dinoseb MR 1 1998
Endrin MR 1 1998
Pentachlorophenol MR 1 1998
Picloram MR 1 1998
Heptachlor MR 1 1998
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 1998
Carbofuran MR 1 1998
Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 1998
Dalapon MR 1 1998
Atrazine MR 1 1998
Aldicarb MR 1 1998
HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 1 1998
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 1 1998
OXAMYL MR 1 1998
2,4-D MR 1 1998
Glyphosate MR 1 1998
Aldicarb sulfone MR 1 1998
Methoxychlor MR 1 1998
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 1 1998
Lead and Copper Rule MR 1 1992
Chlordane MR 1 1998
Simazine MR 1 1998
Toxaphene MR 1 1998

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 1 of 120 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NEtFOSAA 9/10/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 9/10/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/10/2024 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 9/10/2024 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/10/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/10/2024 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 9/10/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 9/10/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 9/10/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/10/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/10/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 9/10/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 9/10/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 9/10/2024 0.0059 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Detected
PFMBA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 9/10/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/10/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/10/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/10/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 9/10/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 7/1/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 7/1/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 7/1/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 7/1/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/1/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 7/1/2024 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 7/1/2024 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/1/2024 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/1/2024 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 7/1/2024 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 7/1/2024 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L 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 APPLETON WATERWORKS.

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 WI4450333 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 APPLETON WATERWORKS 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 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 7000
2013 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 9 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2456
2008 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MCL 3 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2039
2008 Public Notice Other 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 7500
2006 TTHM MR 5 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2950
1998 Endothall MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2033
1998 2,4,5-TP MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2110
1998 Dinoseb MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2041
1998 Endrin MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2005
1998 Pentachlorophenol MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2326
1998 Picloram MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2040
1998 Heptachlor MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2065
1998 Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2042
1998 Carbofuran MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2046
1998 Heptachlor epoxide MR 1 SDWIS / WI4450333 / 2067

How APPLETON WATERWORKS Compares

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

Metric APPLETON WATERWORKS Wisconsin avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 51 26 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 5.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 38.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 74,511 467 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
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is APPLETON WATERWORKS water safe to drink? ▼
APPLETON WATERWORKS (PWS ID: WI4450333) has 51 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 74,511 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does APPLETON WATERWORKS serve? ▼
APPLETON WATERWORKS serves 74,511 people in APPLETON, Wisconsin. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 25,221 service connections.
What type of violations does APPLETON WATERWORKS have? ▼
APPLETON WATERWORKS has 51 total violations: 3 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 APPLETON WATERWORKS water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in APPLETON WATERWORKS's water supply: PFBA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does APPLETON WATERWORKS use? ▼
APPLETON WATERWORKS 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.

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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.

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Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial