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Community Water System · PWS WI6030138

Rice Lake Waterworks

Rice Lake, Wisconsin 54868 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 9,012 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

9,012
People served
133
EPA violations
75
Health-based
No PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 133 drinking-water violations at Rice Lake Waterworks, 56% of them health-based - above the Wisconsin per-system average.

133
Total EPA violations on record
56%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
9,012
People served by this system
0
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Rice Lake Waterworks

Rice Lake Waterworks is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 9,012 residents in Rice Lake, Wisconsin (Barron County) through 3,840 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 133 total violations for this system , of which 75 (56%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 46 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 Coliform (TCR), recorded in 75 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%).

Rice Lake Waterworks's 133 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
9,012
Total Violations
133
Health-Based Violations
75
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
3,840
County
Barron
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
75
Monitoring Violations
46
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 75 2015
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 2023
Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 2012
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 1993
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1993
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 1993
Vinyl chloride MR 2 1993
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1993
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 1993
Trichloroethylene MR 2 1993
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 1993
Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 1993
CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 1993
Benzene MR 2 1993
Ethylbenzene MR 2 1993
Styrene MR 2 1993
Toluene MR 2 1993
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 2 1993
Carbon tetrachloride MR 2 1993
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1993
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 1993
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 1993
Xylenes, Total MR 2 1993
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 2012

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 0 of 232 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NMeFOSAA 9/25/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/25/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/25/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/25/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/25/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/25/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/25/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/25/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/25/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/25/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/25/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/25/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/25/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/25/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/25/2023 <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 Rice Lake 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 WI6030138 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 Rice Lake 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 4 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 8000
2015 Coliform (TCR) MCL 75 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 3100
2012 Lead and Copper Rule MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 5000
2012 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 7000
1993 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2964
1993 o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2968
1993 p-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2969
1993 Vinyl chloride MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2976
1993 trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2979
1993 1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2980
1993 Trichloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2984
1993 1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2985
1993 Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2987
1993 CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2989
1993 Benzene MR 2 SDWIS / WI6030138 / 2990

How Rice Lake Waterworks Compares

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

Metric Rice Lake Waterworks Wisconsin avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 133 26 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 75 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 9,012 467 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 Rice Lake Waterworks water safe to drink? ▼
Rice Lake Waterworks (PWS ID: WI6030138) has 133 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. No PFAS contamination was detected in UCMR5 testing. This system serves 9,012 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Rice Lake Waterworks serve? ▼
Rice Lake Waterworks serves 9,012 people in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 3,840 service connections.
What type of violations does Rice Lake Waterworks have? ▼
Rice Lake Waterworks has 133 total violations: 75 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 46 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Rice Lake Waterworks water? ▼
No. Rice Lake Waterworks was tested for PFAS under the EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program and no PFAS contamination was detected.
What water source does Rice Lake Waterworks use? ▼
Rice Lake Waterworks uses Groundwater 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.