What was found in Superior's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluoride | 816.6 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 80.15 µg/L 6.2% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 575 µg/L — MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 510 µg/L 5.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 11.65 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 120 µg/L — MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 106.371 µg/L 133% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 92.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 44.4225 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 68.675 µg/L — MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 24.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 41 µg/L — MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 26.35 µg/L — MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 8.085 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 7.08 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2017 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 6.005 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2017 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.7 µg/L — MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.225 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 2/2 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 1.15 pCi/L 23% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Highest in the city: MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 · 95 people · 2014 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 0.3815 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2019 | 1/2 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0056 mg/L 37% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY · 26,084 people · 2023 | 2/2 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Superior
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SUPERIOR WATER LIGHT & POWER COMPANY | 26,084 |
| MANITOU FALLS SANITARY DISTRICT NO 1 | 95 |
Frequently asked questions about Superior tap water
Is Superior tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 18 contaminants in the water serving Superior. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Superior?
2 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Superior, Wisconsin to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Superior's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Superior include Fluoride, Copper, Nitrate-Nitrite, Barium, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.