COUNTY REPORT WI

Sauk County, Wisconsin

13 ZIP codes · Avg score 74/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Sauk County's tap water quality puts it in the upper tier nationally; the 13 ZIP codes here record few health-based violations.

How Sauk County Compares

Sauk County74/100
Wisconsin avg66/100
National avg68/100

How Sauk County Compares

B
County Grade
74/100
Avg Safety Score
13
ZIP Codes
27
Water Systems

Sauk County scores 8 points above the Wisconsin state average (66/100) and 6 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
74
Avg Safety Score
13
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 53943 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 54441 (53/100)
$241K
Median Home Value
$1,500
Avg Remediation (62% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Sauk County, Wisconsin

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 13.6 (asthma 10.8%, diabetes 12.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $969, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.373% avg pipe failure probability, 23% of ZIPs at high risk

59.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2023–2024)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Sauk County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2023
1 (1 health)
2024
8 (8 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 8 violations. Past 5 years: 9 total (9 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 40.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1981
Median Build Year
59.8%
Pre-1978 Housing
37%
Pipe Failure Probability
23%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $969

Flood $446/yr
Energy Code Gap $270/yr
Water / Lead $173/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

25,366 housing units in Sauk County

Pre-1940 20%
1940–1959 10%
1960–1979 18%
1980–1999 27%
2000+ 25%

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 Sauk County

$241K
Median Home Value
$1,500
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Sauk 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 Sauk County residents

Asthma 10.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 12.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 40.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Sauk County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 La Valle Waterworks 365 10
2 Ironton Waterworks 253 10
3 Reedsburg Waterworks 9,984 10
4 Equinox Rei Llc Dellwood Estates 70 10
5 Dell Creek Estates 50 10

27 total water systems serve Sauk County.

All ZIP Codes in Sauk County

13 ZIP codes tracked in Sauk County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 53943 Loganville 83 B 0 $231K
2 53561 Merrimac 82 B 3 (1 health) $407K
3 53940 Lake Delton 82 B 2
4 53958 Reedsburg 81 B 5
5 53578 Prairie Du Sac 79 B 8 (3 health) $334K
6 53951 North Freedom 78 B 0 $186K
7 53961 Rock Springs 78 B 1 $200K
8 53577 Plain 77 B 9 (2 health) $248K
9 53941 La Valle 76 B 10 (2 health) $253K
10 53959 Reedsburg 71 B 5 $241K
11 53913 Baraboo 70 B 1 $215K
12 53937 Hillpoint 53 D 0 $262K
13 54441 Hewitt 53 D 0 $207K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Sauk County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

Sauk County in Wisconsin covers 13 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (74/100).

9 of 13 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Wisconsin water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Sauk County?
Sauk County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 13 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Sauk County?
Sauk County is served by 27 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 13 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Sauk County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Sauk County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $969 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Sauk County?
The median home build year in Sauk County is 1981. 59.8% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Sauk County compare to Wisconsin?
Sauk County has an average water safety score of 74/100, which is above the Wisconsin state average of 66/100.

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