Water System Report WI

Portage Waterworks

EPA ID: WI1110039 ยท 10,437 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Portage Waterworks (WI1110039): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Across every monitored period in the past five years, Portage Waterworks reported no EPA violations for its service population of 10,437.

Data: EPA SDWIS

B ยท 77
Avg Safety Score
10,437
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0062 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk ยท Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$214K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Portage Waterworks Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$72,244
Median Household Income
14,654
Service Area Population
0%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
66%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Portage Waterworks serves a community with a median household income of $72,244 and an estimated 14,654 residents across its service area. Approximately 66% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Portage Waterworks's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
30th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

51 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
19 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 73% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.02 ppt, PFOS: 0.02 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Wisconsin

Deforest Waterworks
10,500 people
C 2 violations
Elkhorn Waterworks
10,317 people
C 3 violations
Holmen Waterworks
10,147 people
6 violations
B 4 violations
Monroe Waterworks
10,780 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Radon Mitigation Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $500
Radon Mitigation $400
Water Filtration $300
Total Estimated Cost $2,400

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,400 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Portage Waterworks (EPA ID: WI1110039) is a community water system in Wisconsin that serves approximately 10,437 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 53901 in Portage.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: B (77/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 1 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0062 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by WI or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Portage Waterworks (WI1110039) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portage Waterworks water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for Portage Waterworks in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does Portage Waterworks serve?

Portage Waterworks serves approximately 10,437 people across 1 ZIP code in Wisconsin.

Where does Portage Waterworks get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
116
Detections
2
Latest sample
2/11/2025
Highest analyte
PFHxS: 8.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFHxS 8.1 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Portage Waterworks safe to drink?
Portage Waterworks earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Portage Waterworks meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Portage Waterworks serve?
Portage Waterworks serves approximately 10,437 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Portage Waterworks's water source?
Portage Waterworks draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Portage Waterworks's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0062 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Portage Waterworks's service area?
The Portage Waterworks service area has a median household income of $72,244. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Portage Waterworks get its water?
Portage Waterworks's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Portage Waterworks, WI: Serves 10K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wi1110039/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-wi1110039,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Portage Waterworks, WI: Serves 10K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wi1110039/}
}
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