Water Quality Technical Report — SAND PILLOW, WI
- PWSID
- 055295011
- Population
- 2,746
- Source
- Groundwater
- Data Period
- Not available
- Last Updated
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Summary
SAND PILLOW serves approximately 2,746 people in BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wisconsin. Based on available monitoring data, 0 contaminants have been measured above federal EPA standards (MCL) and 1 exceeds health-based guidelines. The most significant finding is Lead (90th Percentile) at 0.0049 mg/L, which is 24.5x the health guideline. Data is drawn from source-level compliance monitoring and covers recent years. Results reflect conditions at the point of collection (wells, treatment plants), not necessarily at the tap.
Key Findings
- Limited Testing Data: No contaminants detected in available monitoring data. This system may need more comprehensive testing.
Understanding the two thresholds
EPA Legal Limit (MCL)
The highest level of a contaminant allowed by federal law. Utilities that exceed this threshold face enforcement action. Limits balance health risk against the cost of treatment, so they are not always set at levels considered safe by independent researchers.
Health Guideline
The level below which independent researchers (CalEPA, WHO, EWG) believe there is no known health risk. Guidelines are not legally enforceable but are typically stricter than legal limits — often by 10x or more for contaminants like arsenic and lead.
A reading can be below the EPA limit (legally compliant) while still exceeding health guidelines (above levels considered safe by independent researchers).
No Monitoring Data Available
We don't have water quality monitoring data for SAND PILLOW in our database. This doesn't mean the water hasn't been tested — the results aren't in the government data sources we pull from (Wisconsin DNR, EPA SDWIS, EPA UCMR5).
To check directly:
Compliance History
Formal EPA and DNR compliance events on record for this utility. Includes all events from the last 10 years plus any unresolved violations regardless of age. Health-based violations are legally enforceable thresholds that were exceeded; procedural events are monitoring or reporting lapses that don't indicate contamination by themselves.
Apr 1, 2019 – ongoing
Apr 1, 2019 – Jun 30, 2019
Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2019
Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2019
Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2019
Source: EPA ECHO enforcement and violation records (via Envirofacts / SDWIS Federal Reports).
Routine Maintenance
Nothing in this system's current readings crosses a legal limit or a health guideline. Water systems still change over time, so the following is a baseline of habits worth keeping.
- Check the utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report. Utilities publish CCRs every July covering the prior calendar year. They include sampling data the utility collected itself, which complements the independent data on this page. EPA CCR search.
- Notice changes in taste, odor, or color. Chlorine smells, metallic tastes, and rust discoloration are worth flagging to the utility even when readings are in range — they can signal distribution-system events that sampling catches on a delay.
- Consider an independent tap test. A state-certified laboratory can test your tap water for a specific contaminant or a broader panel. Especially valuable for smaller systems with limited monitoring data. Wisconsin DNR certified labs.
- Point-of-use filtration is optional. When readings are within guidelines, any additional filtration is a personal preference — choose based on taste, hardness, or a specific contaminant you want extra assurance on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What contaminants are in BLACK RIVER FALLS water?
Based on available public monitoring data, 1 contaminant has been tested in BLACK RIVER FALLS's water supply. 1 was detected above reporting limits. The most notable detections include Lead (90th Percentile). This data comes from source-level compliance monitoring at wells and treatment plants.
Does BLACK RIVER FALLS water meet EPA standards?
Based on available public monitoring data, no contaminants were measured above federal EPA standards in recent compliance monitoring. However, 1 contaminant exceeds independent health guidelines, which are often stricter than legal limits. This assessment is based on source-level monitoring data (wells and treatment plants), not tap-level measurements.
Is BLACK RIVER FALLS WI water safe to drink?
Based on source-level compliance monitoring, all tested contaminants were within federal standards. However, compliance monitoring tests water at wells and treatment plants, not at individual taps. An on-site test is the only way to know what reaches your tap, as conditions can vary based on plumbing, blending, and distribution.
Does BLACK RIVER FALLS water have lead?
No. BLACK RIVER FALLS's most recent Lead and Copper Rule testing found a 90th-percentile lead level of 0.0049 mg/L, which is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. That means at the systemwide level, lead is not exceeding the enforcement threshold. Lead levels can still vary significantly by individual building — older homes and schools with legacy plumbing can have much higher readings than the system average.
Cross-check against the official record
This report is our read of the public monitoring data. Every Wisconsin utility also publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) — a plain-language summary written by the utility itself, usually mailed with a water bill or posted on the utility's website. If anything in this report surprises you, request SAND PILLOW's latest CCR directly from the utility, or browse the underlying compliance data on the Wisconsin DNR portal.
Data Sources and Methodology
Definitions
- Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL)
- The highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water, set by the EPA. MCLs are legally enforceable standards.
- Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG)
- The level of a contaminant below which there is no known or expected health risk. MCLGs are non-enforceable public health goals.
- Action Level
- The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements. Used for lead and copper.
- Health Advisory
- Non-enforceable guidelines set by the EPA providing information on contaminants that can cause health effects at certain exposure levels.
- Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
- A measure of all dissolved minerals, salts, and organic matter in water, expressed in mg/L (ppm). Not a health hazard but affects taste and indicates overall mineral content.
- PFAS
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. A group of manufactured chemicals that do not break down in the environment. The EPA set enforceable limits for several PFAS compounds in 2024.
- Non-Detect (ND)
- The contaminant was tested for but not found above the laboratory's reporting limit. This does not mean zero — it means below the detection threshold.
- VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
- Chemicals that evaporate easily and can contaminate groundwater. Sources include gasoline, industrial solvents, and dry cleaning fluids. Some are regulated by the EPA; many are monitored but not yet regulated.
Download Data
Cite This Report
WaterAdvantage. "Water Quality Technical Report: BLACK RIVER FALLS, WI (055295011)." WaterAdvantage.org, 2026-04-14. https://www.wateradvantage.org/report/055295011/detail
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