Rusk County, Wisconsin
9 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Tracking 9 ZIP codes in Rusk County shows a water safety record well above the national median — violations are isolated exceptions, not recurring patterns.
How Rusk County Compares
How Rusk County Compares
Rusk County scores 4 points above the Wisconsin state average (66/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Rusk County, Wisconsin
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.6 (asthma 11%, diabetes 14.7%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $631, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.391% avg pipe failure probability, 25% of ZIPs at high risk
63.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Rusk County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 13 total (13 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: $631
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
7,619 housing units in Rusk 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 Rusk County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Rusk 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 Rusk 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 Rusk County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glen Flora Waterworks | 93 | 22 |
| 2 | Ladysmith Waterworks | 3,184 | 13 |
| 3 | Willow Lane Estates | 34 | 13 |
| 4 | Tony Waterworks | 105 | 8 |
| 5 | HAWKINS WATERWORKS | 333 | 7 |
9 total water systems serve Rusk County.
All ZIP Codes in Rusk County
9 ZIP codes tracked in Rusk County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54895 | Weyerhaeuser | 83 | B | 0 | $183K |
| 2 | 54563 | Tony | 82 | B | 8 (1 health) | $196K |
| 3 | 54819 | Bruce | 82 | B | 2 | $154K |
| 4 | 54526 | Glen Flora | 81 | B | 22 (2 health) | $123K |
| 5 | 54530 | Hawkins | 77 | B | 7 (2 health) | $104K |
| 6 | 54848 | Ladysmith | 69 | C | 13 | $138K |
| 7 | 54434 | Jump River | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 8 | 54515 | Catawba | 53 | D | 0 | $109K |
| 9 | 54731 | Conrath | 53 | D | 0 | $160K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Rusk County
Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 63.9% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rusk County, Wisconsin
Overview
Rusk County in Wisconsin covers 9 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).
5 of 9 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 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.