Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY
WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY delivers tap water graded F (53/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 70,718 residents in WAUKESHA, Wisconsin using surface water (purchased). 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.
Is WAUKESHA tap water safe to drink?
WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (53/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 70,718 residents in WAUKESHA, drawing from surface water (purchased).
Public testing data identifies 18 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total PFOS and PFOA*, Arsenic, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Radium, combined (-226 and -228), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Bromate*, Chromium (hexavalent)*, Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)*, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)*, Bromoform. 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 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.
Quick actions for WAUKESHA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY.
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.
Contact WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY
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 WAUKESHA
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.
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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 53/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
WAUKESHA WATER UTILITY service area
This water system serves 1 community in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WAUKESHA water
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