Buffalo County, Wisconsin
6 ZIP codes · Avg score 62/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03
Covering 6 ZIP codes, Buffalo County falls in the average tier for tap water safety — violations appear in a meaningful share of areas, and the data suggests quality depends heavily on which specific part of the county a household sits in.
How Buffalo County Compares
How Buffalo County Compares
Buffalo County scores 4 points below the Wisconsin state average (66/100) and 6 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Buffalo County, Wisconsin
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.2 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 12.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $783, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.4% avg pipe failure probability, 40% of ZIPs at high risk
67.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Buffalo County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2021 with 2 violations. Past 5 years: 3 total (3 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $783
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
6,918 housing units in Buffalo County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Buffalo County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Buffalo County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Health Outcomes vs National Average
CDC PLACES data for Buffalo County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Buffalo County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fountain City Waterworks | 443 | 4 |
| 2 | Fountain Bluffs Mhp Llc | 25 | 4 |
| 3 | Alma Waterworks | 769 | 3 |
| 4 | Cochrane Waterworks | 450 | 3 |
| 5 | MONDOVI WATERWORKS | 2,667 | 3 |
8 total water systems serve Buffalo County.
All ZIP Codes in Buffalo County
6 ZIP codes tracked in Buffalo County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54622 | Cochrane | 69 | C | 3 (1 health) | $181K |
| 2 | 54755 | Mondovi | 69 | C | 3 (1 health) | $218K |
| 3 | 54610 | Alma | 67 | C | 3 | $195K |
| 4 | 54756 | Nelson | 64 | C | 0 | $196K |
| 5 | 54629 | Fountain City | 63 | C | 4 | $209K |
| 6 | 54743 | Gilmanton | 40 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Buffalo County
Federal and certification sources drive the ordering: EPA monitoring data, NSF certifications, FEMA flood maps, and CDC lead guidance — guides surface only when county data warrants them.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 67.8% of homes built before 1978
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Buffalo County, Wisconsin
Overview
Buffalo County in Wisconsin covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (62/100).
4 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Wisconsin water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.