Madison Water Utility
EPA ID: WI1130224 · 272,000 people served · 20 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Madison Water Utility (WI1130224): 1 unresolved EPA violation on record. Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, Madison Water Utility shows 1 active EPA violation in the federal database for a service population of approximately 272,000.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Madison Water Utility Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Madison Water Utility serves a community with a median household income of $92,223 and an estimated 463,297 residents across its service area. Approximately 54% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Madison Water Utility'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.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Madison Water Utility compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 36 detections recorded.
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Wisconsin
Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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.
System Overview
Madison Water Utility (EPA ID: WI1130224) is a community water system in Wisconsin that serves approximately 272,000 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 20 ZIP codes across 7 communities.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: C (62/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 13 of 20 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
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 1 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 1 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Non-health-based | Unaddressed (current) |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.0018 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 1 (High 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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — 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.
- 53558 - Mc Farland
- 53562 - Middleton
- 53575 - Oregon
- 53590 - Sun Prairie
- 53593 - Verona
- 53597 - Waunakee
- 53703 - Madison
- 53704 - Madison
- 53705 - Madison
- 53706 - Madison
- 53711 - Madison
- 53713 - Madison
- 53714 - Madison
- 53715 - Madison
- 53716 - Madison
- 53717 - Madison
- 53718 - Madison
- 53719 - Madison
- 53726 - Madison
- 53792 - Madison
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Madison Water Utility (WI1130224) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Madison Water Utility water safe to drink?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 1 current noncompliance record and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.
How many people does Madison Water Utility serve?
Madison Water Utility serves approximately 272,000 people across 20 ZIP codes in Wisconsin.
Where does Madison Water Utility 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.
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) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
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.
- #60 / 100 Highest Exposure Burden (U.S.)
- #33 / 50 Most Disadvantaged Populations Served (Wisconsin)
- #2 / 50 Highest Exposure Burden (Wisconsin)
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Madison Water Utility (WI): 1 Health Violation. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wi1130224/
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title = {{Madison Water Utility (WI): 1 Health Violation}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/wi1130224/}
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What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Madison Water Utility (EPA ID: WI1130224) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.