Monitoring Violations WI

Medford Waterworks

EPA ID: WI8610125 · 4,318 people served · 2 ZIP codes

On record: Medford Waterworks, 1 violation, all resolved, 4,318 in service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 83
Avg Safety Score
4,318
People Served
2
ZIP Codes Served
1
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0028 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
1
Contaminants Flagged
$172K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$66,701
Median Household Income
13,452
Service Area Population
42%
Disadvantaged Population
65th
Poverty Percentile
85th
Energy Burden Percentile
66%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Medford Waterworks serves a community with a median household income of $66,701 and an estimated 13,452 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.

Environmental Justice Note: 42% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Medford 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
25th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
55th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 3% of homes in Taylor County, Wisconsin rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

58 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
10 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 85% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Medford Waterworks compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Consumer Confidence Report 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. 3 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Wisconsin

Kewaskum Waterworks
4,309 people
C 0 violations
Viroqua Waterworks
4,362 people
B 1 violation
Saukville Waterworks
4,268 people
C 2 violations
Prescott Waterworks
4,258 people
C 2 violations
Baldwin Waterworks
4,440 people
C 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $400
PFAS Treatment $300
Total Estimated Cost $700

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $700 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Medford Waterworks (EPA ID: WI8610125) is a community water system in Wisconsin that serves approximately 4,318 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 2 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (83/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

1 monitoring/reporting violation recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
54451 0.0028 mg/L No N/A
54498 0.0023 mg/L No N/A

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 $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Medford Waterworks (WI8610125) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Medford Waterworks water safe to drink?

Medford Waterworks has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does Medford Waterworks serve?

Medford Waterworks serves approximately 4,318 people across 2 ZIP codes in Wisconsin.

Where does Medford 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
348
Detections
4
Latest sample
8/19/2024
Highest analyte
PFBA: 5.4 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 5.4 ppt
PFHxS 5.2 ppt 10 ppt Below current MCL
PFOA 4.1 ppt 10 ppt Above 2029 federal 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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1
Unknown Material
1,666
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-06-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 4,318
Reported to Wisconsin

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Medford Waterworks safe to drink?
Medford Waterworks earns a B safety grade with 1 violation in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in Medford Waterworks's water?
Detected contaminants include Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Medford Waterworks serve?
Medford Waterworks serves approximately 4,318 people with drinking water across 2 ZIP codes.
What is Medford Waterworks's water source?
Medford Waterworks draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Medford Waterworks's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0028 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Medford Waterworks's service area?
The Medford Waterworks service area has a median household income of $66,701. EPA EJScreen data classifies 42% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Medford Waterworks get its water?
Medford 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.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Medford Waterworks (EPA ID: WI8610125) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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