Portage County, Wisconsin
9 ZIP codes · Avg score 53/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Public water compliance in Portage County is below average — 9 ZIP codes, elevated violation rates.
How Portage County Compares
How Portage County Compares
Portage County scores 13 points below the Wisconsin state average (66/100) and 15 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Portage County, Wisconsin
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 11.9 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 9.6%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $579, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.383% avg pipe failure probability, 22% of ZIPs at high risk
60.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Portage County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 9 violations. Past 5 years: 18 total (18 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
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: $579
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
26,907 housing units in Portage 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 Portage County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Portage 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 Portage 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 Portage County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | STEVENS POINT WATERWORKS | 26,717 | 179 |
| 2 | Whiting Waterworks | 1,743 | 179 |
| 3 | Tremain Mobile Home Park | 475 | 177 |
| 4 | Recreacres Mhc Llc | 320 | 177 |
| 5 | Maizefield Mhc (manufactured Home Community) | 145 | 177 |
10 total water systems serve Portage County.
All ZIP Codes in Portage County
9 ZIP codes tracked in Portage County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54443 | Junction City | 70 | B | 0 | $259K |
| 2 | 54467 | Plover | 69 | C | 2 | $244K |
| 3 | 54921 | Bancroft | 64 | C | 1 | $191K |
| 4 | 54406 | Amherst | 62 | C | 3 (1 health) | $267K |
| 5 | 54481 | Stevens Point | 46 | D | 59 (10 health) | $192K |
| 6 | 54482 | Stevens Point | 42 | D | 59 (10 health) | $266K |
| 7 | 54492 | Stevens Point | 42 | D | 59 (10 health) | — |
| 8 | 54407 | Amherst Junction | 40 | D | 0 | $307K |
| 9 | 54458 | Nelsonville | 40 | D | 0 | $140K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Portage County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 60.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Portage County, Wisconsin
Overview
Portage County in Wisconsin covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (53/100).
6 of 9 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 31 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.
What You Can Do
Portage County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
60.6% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.