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Appleton, WI Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Appleton Waterworks PWSID: WI4450333 Updated: 2026 Q2
✅

No federal limits exceeded on record

Lead is 1.30 ppb, 9% of the action level and no violations are open. No PFAS was detected.

B

Appleton earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: 1.30 ppb — 9% of the federal action level
PFAS tested, none detected
2 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Appleton's lead level vs. all Wisconsin community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 1.30 ppb — 9% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 70% of Wisconsin utilities
Population Served
73109
~25221 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
2 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
9% of EPA action level
1.30 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 1.30 ppb, 9% 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
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2023 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2023 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

2 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Appleton Waterworks
PWSID WI4450333
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 73,109
Service connections 25,221
Systems serving this area 7
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Appleton tap water safe to drink? ▼
No federal limit is exceeded on record. No violations are currently open. Lead is 1.30 ppb, 9% of the action level.
Does Appleton water have PFAS? ▼
It was tested for the six regulated PFAS compounds and none were detected.
Who supplies water to Appleton? ▼
Appleton Waterworks (PWSID WI4450333), one of 7 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2024-10-16. Inspectors recorded 3 significant deficiencies.

What Should Appleton Residents Do?

1
Read your annual water report
Your supplier publishes a Consumer Confidence Report each July covering the prior year.
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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