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Community Water System · PWS WI6480243

Prescott Waterworks

Prescott, Wisconsin 54021-2011 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 4,258 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

4,258
People served
78
EPA violations
21
Health-based
6 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 78 drinking-water violations at Prescott Waterworks, 27% of them health-based - above the Wisconsin per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds.

78
Total EPA violations on record
27%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
4,258
People served by this system
6
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Prescott Waterworks

Prescott Waterworks is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,258 residents in Prescott, Wisconsin (Pierce County) through 1,942 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 78 total violations for this system , of which 21 (27%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 49 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2021.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Coliform (TCR), recorded in 11 violations (MCL, health-based). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 6 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 280 ppt (parts per trillion). 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. Statewide, 78 of 202 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (38.6%).

Prescott Waterworks's 78 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.

PFAS Detected

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

Population Served
4,258
Total Violations
78
Health-Based Violations
21
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,942
County
Pierce
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
21
Monitoring Violations
49
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 2010
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 10 2014
TTHM MR 10 2014
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 8 2009
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 8 2009
Radium-228 MR 8 2009
Nitrate-Nitrite MCL 6 2021
Nitrate MCL 4 2006
Nitrate MR 4 1995
Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 2010
Coliform (TCR) MR 1 2002

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 24 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFDA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/23/2024 10.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 7/23/2024 8.70 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/23/2024 9.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDoA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/23/2024 4.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/23/2024 260.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/23/2024 4.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/23/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/23/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/23/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/23/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/23/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/23/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/23/2024 7.80 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpS 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/23/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/23/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/23/2024 4.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
6:2 FTS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/23/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/23/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/23/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/23/2024 3.70 ppt 3.00 ppt 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 Prescott 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 WI6480243 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 Prescott 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
2021 Nitrate-Nitrite MCL 6 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 1038
2014 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 10 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 2456
2014 TTHM MR 10 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 2950
2010 Coliform (TCR) MCL 11 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 3100
2010 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 3 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 7000
2009 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 8 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 4000
2009 Combined Radium (-226 and -228) MR 8 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 4010
2009 Radium-228 MR 8 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 4030
2006 Nitrate MCL 4 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 1040
2002 Coliform (TCR) MR 1 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 3100
1995 Nitrate MR 4 SDWIS / WI6480243 / 1040

How Prescott Waterworks Compares

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

Metric Prescott Waterworks Wisconsin avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 78 26 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 21 5.3 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 6 compounds 38.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 4,258 467 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 Prescott Waterworks water safe to drink?
Prescott Waterworks (PWS ID: WI6480243) has 78 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 6 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 4,258 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Prescott Waterworks serve?
Prescott Waterworks serves 4,258 people in Prescott, Wisconsin. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,942 service connections.
What type of violations does Prescott Waterworks have?
Prescott Waterworks has 78 total violations: 21 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 49 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Prescott Waterworks water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 6 PFAS compounds in Prescott Waterworks's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFBA, and others. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Prescott Waterworks use?
Prescott 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.
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.