What was found in Wausau'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 957.5 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2400 µg/L — RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate-Nitrite | 864.5 µg/L 8.6% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 2100 µg/L — RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 1130.5 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 82.757 µg/L 6.4% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 607 µg/L — RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2017 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 6.4 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2017
Highest in the city: 169 µg/L — RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2017 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 20.875 µg/L 26% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 73.775 µg/L — MAINE WATER UTILITY · 271 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 22.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 69.05 µg/L — MAINE WATER UTILITY · 271 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 21 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 19.32 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 17.7365 µg/L 118% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 13.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 8.1195 µg/L 8.1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 1.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.3 µg/L — MAINE WATER UTILITY · 271 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 5.6 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.395 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 3.875 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.42 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.9 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2017 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.7850 pCi/L 16% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2014
Highest in the city: 1.80035 pCi/L — RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2014 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.65 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 0.4300 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY · 6,398 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0058 mg/L 39% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: WAUSAU WATERWORKS · 39,994 people · 2020 | 3/3 | 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 Wausau
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| WAUSAU WATERWORKS | 39,994 |
| RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY | 6,398 |
| MAINE WATER UTILITY | 271 |
Frequently asked questions about Wausau tap water
Is Wausau tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 23 contaminants in the water serving Wausau. 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 Wausau?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Wausau, Wisconsin to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Wausau's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Wausau include Nitrate, Nitrate-Nitrite, Fluoride, Copper, Barium. 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.