Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
APPLETON WATERWORKS
APPLETON WATERWORKS delivers tap water graded D (62/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 74,511 residents in MENASHA, Wisconsin using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline.
Is MENASHA tap water safe to drink?
APPLETON WATERWORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (62/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 74,511 residents in MENASHA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total PFOS and PFOA, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dibromoacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for APPLETON WATERWORKS (system ID WI4450333) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 07/01/2023 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for MENASHA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for APPLETON WATERWORKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Total PFOS and PFOA detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 22.0 ppb, 367x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 2.23 ppt, 318x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 32.5 ppb, 216x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact APPLETON WATERWORKS
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for MENASHA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 62/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
22.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 367× over |
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
2.23 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 318× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
32.5 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 216× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.208 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 208× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
16.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.57 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 76× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
27.6 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 69× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
5.97 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.9 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.414 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 21× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.52 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 5.8× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0873 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.9× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.29 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.1× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.135 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.4× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.37 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 1.2× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.25 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0507 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
58.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
4.72 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
4.77 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0531 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.153 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.336 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
0.32 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.288 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0666 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.642 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Metolachlor Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.027 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
APPLETON WATERWORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MENASHA water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.