Is Waukesha tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

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

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

3 Issues Detected in Waukesha

Moderately Hard Water (7.5 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Waukesha

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Waukesha

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.2 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Waukesha
Wisconsin

5,318,653,188 · Lake Michigan via Great Lakes Compact

Waukesha, WI Water Quality Report

Moderate Risk Updated March 2026 72,489 residents
See Best Filters for Waukesha
79
Purity Score

Contaminant Levels

PFAS
ND
Lead
4 ppb
Nitrate
0.5 mg/L
Arsenic
0.2 mg/L
Hardness
7.5 gpg

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 7.5 GPG, Waukesha's water qualifies as moderately hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Waukesha's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

79 /100
Good
"Good" threshold (70)

Waukesha tap water is sourced from Lake Michigan via Great Lakes Compact and treated by Waukesha Water Utility. Water hardness is hard at 7.5 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 79/100 (Good). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Waukesha's 3 issues.

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Explore Waukesha Water Data

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Lead in WaukeshaLead risk
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Waukesha Water FAQ

Is Waukesha WI tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Waukesha 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 Waukesha WI use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Waukesha uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.5 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 Waukesha WI water and what is the TDS level?
Waukesha water hardness is 7.5 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 200 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 Waukesha WI drinking water?
Based on available EPA UCMR5 monitoring data as of 2026 PFAS have not been detected above EPA advisory levels in Waukesha drinking water.
What is the best water filter for Waukesha?
Based on Waukesha's water profile, we recommend the AFWFilters 5600sxt 48000 Grain Softener. Waukesha 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
  • Waukesha Water Utility CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

© 2026 PurityMap. For informational purposes only.

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