Is Oshkosh tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Oshkosh's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

79/100
Purity Score
3
Issues Found
8 GPG
Hardness
Not detected
PFAS

3 Issues Detected in Oshkosh

Moderately Hard Water (8 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Oshkosh

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Oshkosh

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Oshkosh
Wisconsin

549,015,490,254,904 · Lake Winnebago

Oshkosh, WI Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 66,816 residents
See Best Filters for Oshkosh
79
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
3.5 ppb
Nitrate
0.5 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
8 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    With a hardness of 8 GPG, Oshkosh residents may notice white scale on faucets. Hard water increases maintenance costs.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Oshkosh's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

79 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Oshkosh tap water is sourced from Lake Winnebago and treated by City of Oshkosh Water. Water hardness is hard at 8.0 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 79/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Oshkosh's 3 issues.

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Explore Oshkosh Water Data

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Lead in OshkoshLead risk
Oshkosh Hard WaterHardness data
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Oshkosh Water FAQ

Is Oshkosh WI tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Oshkosh tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 79/100 (Good) on PurityMap for 2026. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Oshkosh WI use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Oshkosh uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.4 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Oshkosh WI water and what is the TDS level?
Oshkosh water hardness is 8.0 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 275 ppm (fair). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.
Has PFAS been found in Oshkosh WI drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Oshkosh drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Oshkosh?
Based on Oshkosh's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Oshkosh has elevated chlorine residuals. An under-sink carbon filter removes chlorine and disinfection byproducts at the tap.

Nearby Reports

MadisonWisconsin — 58/100JanesvilleWisconsin — 73/100Green BayWisconsin — 79/100KenoshaWisconsin — 79/100RacineWisconsin — 79/100AppletonWisconsin — 79/100

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Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • City of Oshkosh Water CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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