Marathon County Water Quality: 39 Violations (WI)
18 water systems · 12 ZIP codes · Average ZIP-level Home Safety model score 51/100 (D) · 5 of 20 tracked ZIP records scored
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO
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Find the Right Filter →Water Quality Overview
Marathon County has 18 community water systems across 12 directly mapped ZIP records. The systems report serving approximately 111,252 people. The available records contain 39 EPA violations, including 10 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 26% of all violations in Marathon County. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health.
Year-by-year violation counts, enforcement actions and violation counts by contaminant are not shown for this county: the source records them per ZIP code, so a water system serving several ZIP codes would be counted several times. The county totals above count each water system once.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 10 | 25.6% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 29 | 74.4% |
| Total | 39 | 100% |
Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL (disinfectant) and treatment-technique violations. Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report.
Cities with Most Violations
| Rank | City | Violations | Health-Based | ZIP Codes | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colby | 16 | 4 | 1 | 3,724 |
| 2 | Edgar | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4,359 |
| 3 | Rothschild | 6 | 2 | 1 | 4,560 |
| 4 | Marathon | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4,243 |
| 5 | Schofield | 4 | 1 | 1 | 19,305 |
| 6 | Stratford | 4 | 1 | 1 | 5,543 |
| 7 | Athens | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5,053 |
| 8 | Mosinee | 3 | 1 | 1 | 18,994 |
| 9 | Spencer | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3,592 |
| 10 | Wausau | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56,406 |
Most Common Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 8 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 8 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | No |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 5 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 5 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2 | No |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Treatment Technique | 1 | Yes |
Water Data and the Home Safety Score
This page reports EPA water-system facts without converting the broader Home Safety Score into a drinking-water grade. The county Home Safety grade (D) is a separate multi-source index that also requires PFAS screening, radon, and annual air-quality evidence. Check each ZIP report for the versioned score and its component coverage.
Water Systems in Marathon County
Marathon County is served by 18 community water systems, averaging 0.9 systems per ZIP code. Each system is independently regulated and tested by the EPA. Larger systems serving more people typically have more extensive monitoring requirements.
Water systems in Marathon County source water from a mix of surface water (rivers, reservoirs) and groundwater (wells, aquifers). Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be detected.
How to Check Your Water in Marathon County
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the Home Safety Score is shown separately with its model version
Request your CCR — every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test — certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400) can detect contaminants not covered by routine testing
Consider filtration — NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
Check for lead — homes built before 1986 should test for lead regardless of utility compliance
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Source publication schedules vary. See the page source and verification fields for available timing evidence.
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Marathon County
Water quality varies across Marathon County's 12 ZIP codes. Each row counts the EPA violations of every water system mapped to that ZIP, so a system serving several ZIP codes appears in several rows and the rows do not add up to the county total. Check your specific ZIP for detailed contaminant data.
| ZIP Code | City | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54421 | Colby | 16 | 4 | View → |
| 54426 | Edgar | 9 | 3 | View → |
| 54474 | Rothschild | 6 | 2 | View → |
| 54448 | Marathon | 5 | 2 | View → |
| 54476 | Schofield | 4 | 1 | View → |
| 54411 | Athens | 4 | 0 | View → |
| 54484 | Stratford | 4 | 1 | View → |
| 54455 | Mosinee | 3 | 1 | View → |
| 54479 | Spencer | 3 | 1 | View → |
| 54403 | Wausau | 1 | 0 | View → |
| 54471 | Ringle | 1 | 0 | View → |
| 54401 | Wausau | 0 | 0 | View → |
What are EPA health violations?
Health-based violations are EPA violations of a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), a Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) or a required treatment technique - the enforceable standards designed to protect human health. Marathon County has 10 such violations. Not all violations cause illness; review each violation type and duration to understand possible health implications.
Water facts and the Home Safety Score
The score shown here is the broader Home Safety Score, not a water-quality grade. Model 4.0.0 combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, PFAS screening, radon zones, and annual air-quality evidence. Marathon County has a score of 51/100 (Grade D) across 5 scored of 20 tracked ZIP records.
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Find the Right Filter →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe in Marathon County, Wisconsin?
Marathon County has 18 community water systems with 39 recorded EPA violations, including 10 health-based. Water quality varies by ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Marathon County have?
The 18 water systems with EPA records that serve ZIP codes in Marathon County have 39 recorded EPA violations, each system counted once. 10 are health-based.
Which city in Marathon County has the most water violations?
Colby has the most violations in Marathon County with 16 recorded EPA violations for the 5 water systems serving its 1 ZIP code.
What contaminants are found in Marathon County water?
Marathon County water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. Check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.
How can I test my water in Marathon County?
Contact your local water utility for free or low-cost testing. You can also use a certified home test kit ($20-$50) or hire a certified lab ($150-$400).