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Columbus, WI Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Columbus, WI — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Columbus's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Columbus Utilities PWSID: WI1110038 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 8.88 ppb, 59% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

B

Columbus earns a B for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: 8.88 ppb — 59% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
5 violations since 2015, 2 health-based
No violations currently open
Columbus's lead level vs. all Wisconsin community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 8.88 ppb — 59% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 7% of Wisconsin utilities
Population Served
12
~1915 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
5 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
59% of EPA action level
8.88 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 8.88 ppb, 59% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2023 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — TT 2019–2020 Resolved
Groundwater Rule OTHER — — 2019 Resolved
Groundwater Rule OTHER — — 2018 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — TT 2018 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

5 violations are on record since 2015, of which 2 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Columbus Utilities
PWSID WI1110038
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 12
Service connections 1,915
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Columbus tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 8.88 ppb, 59% of the action level.
Does Columbus water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Columbus? ▼
Columbus Utilities (PWSID WI1110038). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-06-05. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Columbus Residents Do?

1
Consider a filter certified for lead
Look for NSF/ANSI 53 certification for lead reduction.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

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