Appleton
Appleton, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
appleton waterworks
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID WI4450333
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 74,139 residents, Appleton ranks as the 6th-largest city in Wisconsin and a small but growing city. Water in Appleton is sourced chiefly from Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, and aquifers, the backbone of Wisconsin's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. Great Lakes access is abundant, but PFAS and nitrate contamination affect many private and municipal wells.
Statewide, Wisconsin recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Appleton faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The Wisconsin state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Appleton's water future.
Outagamie County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~74,139 (6th-largest in Wisconsin)
- Primary sources: Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, and aquifers
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Wisconsin in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Appleton?
Appleton's largest water system, APPLETON WATERWORKS, serves about 74,511 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.3 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Appleton get its water?
APPLETON WATERWORKS draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Wisconsin's supply from Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, aquifers.
Related water issues
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