Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in WAUKESHA, Wisconsin
Tap water in WAUKESHA, Wisconsin receives a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA* significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in WAUKESHA's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving WAUKESHA.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)*, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Total PFOS and PFOA* significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA* detected at 3.4 ppt, 486x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.39 ppb, 98x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 13.2 ppb, 88x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY (system ID WI2680238) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 03/06/2023 | Open |
| Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule | Contaminant above the legal limit | 04/01/2023 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for WAUKESHA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in WAUKESHA's 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.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC or chloroform reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in WAUKESHA's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total PFOS and PFOA* PFAS |
3.4 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 486× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.39 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 98× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
13.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 88× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
5.11 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 85× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
3.92 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.84 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 64× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.78 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
2.67 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 27× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.651 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 22× over |
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
0.019 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Bromate* Disinfection byproduct |
1.72 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 17× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent)* Heavy metal |
0.213 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
3.97 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 9.9× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)* PFAS |
0.675 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.5× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.753 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.5× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.23 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.2× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)* PFAS |
1.03 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.4× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.659 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
81.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.16 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.0504 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine* Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0195 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.0269 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony* Heavy metal |
0.17 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
12.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
78.7 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium* Other |
0.275 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
19.6 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.232 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Aluminum Heavy metal |
1.41 ppb | 600.0 | — | 200 | — | 600 | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0394 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.046 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total)* Heavy metal |
0.795 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.694 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY.