Wisconsin
Wisconsin sits in the Midwest and draws its water primarily from Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, and aquifers. With roughly 5.9 million residents, the state has minimal formal water reuse to date, reusing an estimated 3% of its treated wastewater.
Wisconsinwater quality & safety
Top violation drivers in Wisconsin
| Contaminant / rule | Systems |
|---|---|
| LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS | 205 |
| Groundwater Rule | 76 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | 63 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | 50 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | 28 |
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228) | 28 |
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1 · health-based violations since 2016
Great Lakes access is abundant, but PFAS and nitrate contamination affect many private and municipal wells.
On the U.S. Drought Monitor scale, Wisconsin currently tracks around abnormally dry to moderate conditions. Wisconsin has 977 community water systems serving about 4 million people; EPA records show 370 of them (37.9%) with a health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016. The pages below break down the water issues that matter most here and the communities working on solutions.
Drought history — severe+ extent
% of Wisconsin in severe drought or worse (D2+) each late summer.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor (NDMC/UNL, USDA, NOAA) · latest 2026-06-09
Water use (USGS 2015)
- Per-capita (public supply)
- 115 gpcd
- Total withdrawals
- 5.8 Bgal/d
- From groundwater
- 13.4%
- Irrigation share
- 8%
- Wastewater reused (est.)
- ~3%
Primary water sources
- ≈ Great Lakes
- ≈ Wisconsin River
- ≈ aquifers
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 977 community water systems serving about 4 million people. EPA records show 370 of them (37.9%) with at least one health-based Safe Drinking Water Act violation since 2016, and 8 system(s) over the federal lead action level. Most large systems meet standards; check your specific city and your utility's annual report.
What contaminants are most common in Wisconsin's water?
The most frequent health-based violations involve LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONS, Groundwater Rule, Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule.
How much water does Wisconsin use per person?
Public water systems in Wisconsin withdraw about 115 gallons per person per day (USGS 2015), drawing 13.4% of fresh water from groundwater.
How bad is the drought in Wisconsin?
As of 2026-06-09, 13.5% of Wisconsin is in drought (D1+) and 0% is in severe drought or worse, per the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Cities in Wisconsin
13 trackedMilwaukee
Milwaukee, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Madison
Madison, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Green Bay
Green Bay, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Kenosha
Kenosha, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Racine
Racine, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Appleton
Appleton, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Waukesha
Waukesha, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Eau Claire
Eau Claire, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Janesville
Janesville, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
West Allis
West Allis, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
La Crosse
La Crosse, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
Key issues in Wisconsin
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore