Water Quality Technical Report — ASHLAND WATER UTILITY, WI

Summary

ASHLAND WATER UTILITY serves approximately 8,000 people in ASHLAND, Wisconsin. Based on contaminant analyses from DNR, WQP, EPA ECHO, EPA UCMR5, the most recent monitoring readings are within federal EPA standards (MCL), but this system has active MCL violations on record for 2 contaminants. 1 contaminant exceeds health-based guidelines. The most significant finding is Lead (90th Percentile) at 0.0065 mg/L, which is 32.5x the health guideline. Data is drawn from source-level compliance monitoring and covers 1999 through 2026. Results reflect conditions at the point of collection (wells, treatment plants), not necessarily at the tap.

Key Findings

• Lead (90th percentile): Below the legal limit but above health-based guidelines (2025 reading). From your water system's testing.
• PFAS Detected: PFAS compounds were detected in monitoring data for this system.
• Arsenic (nearby groundwater): Below the legal limit but above health-based guidelines (2014 reading). From regional groundwater monitoring, not your tap.

EPA Violation Records

The following violation records exist in EPA's federal compliance database for this system. We do not have corresponding monitoring data for these contaminants in our database.

Exceeds Health Guidelines

These contaminants were detected below the EPA legal limit but above a health-based guideline from a public health agency (CalEPA OEHHA, WHO, or similar). Health guidelines are non-enforceable research-backed targets that are often stricter than the legal limit.

PFAS: 0.4 ng/L detected.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body. The EPA set enforceable limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024, with a compliance deadline of 2029. PFAS compounds measured above EPA standards appear in the Above Federal Standard section above. The value shown in the heading is the combined PFOA + PFOS concentration reported by Wisconsin DNR (a legacy 2016 EPA Health Advisory metric, not a current MCL).

Microplastics

Microplastics have been documented in raw and treated drinking water worldwide, but federal regulations do not currently require testing — so there is no data specific to this system. Standardized methods and rules are in progress.

Other Regulated Contaminants

These contaminants were detected within federal standards (EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels). They are presented for transparency.

Unregulated Detected Contaminants

These contaminants were detected but do not have a federal Maximum Contaminant Level. They are monitored for awareness, not compliance.

Other Potential Contaminants

Not detecting a contaminant does not prove it isn't present — it only means the laboratory didn't test for it, or tested below the reporting limit. Many substances of emerging concern are not routinely monitored because federal regulations haven't caught up to the science.

• Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) — USGS Emerging Contaminants program · Kolpin et al. (USGS FS-2006-3013)
• Unregulated PFAS compounds — EPA PFAS rule (2024) · EPA UCMR monitoring
• 1,4-Dioxane — EPA technical fact sheet
• Hexavalent chromium (Cr-VI) — EPA chromium in drinking water · California OEHHA PHG
• Unregulated disinfection byproducts — EPA Stage 1 / Stage 2 DBPR
• Endocrine disruptors — EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program

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.

+ 9 older events in the 10-year window not shown

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

Data Sources and Methodology

Wisconsin DNR Compliance Monitoring

State-level drinking water compliance testing. Covers all regulated contaminants for community water systems. Source-level monitoring at wells and treatment plants. Individual result links are provided for each contaminant in the tables above.

DNR Drinking Water Portal →

Water Quality Portal

Cooperative service by USGS, EPA, and NWQMC. Regional groundwater monitoring data from nearby wells — may not reflect this specific utility.

Water Quality Portal →

EPA ECHO Lead & Copper Rule

90th percentile measurements from EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online. Based on tap-level sampling at high-risk sites.

ECHO facility report →

EPA UCMR5

Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, Fifth cycle. Per-analyte PFAS results from utility-level sampling.

UCMR5 program →Search UCMR data →

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.

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Cite This Report

WaterAdvantage. "Water Quality Technical Report: ASHLAND, WI (WI8020373)." WaterAdvantage.org, 2026-04-14. https://www.wateradvantage.org/report/WI8020373/detail