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Water Quality Report

Baraboo, WI

Sauk County · 14,407 residents · 5 water systems

17

Contaminants detected

0

PFAS compounds

338

Hardness (mg/L)

0

Above legal limits

12

Above health guidelines

Baraboo drinking water comes from groundwater wells. Based on the most recent monitoring data, 17 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Arsenic, Copper, and 13 others. PFAS testing has been conducted with no detections. Water hardness is 338 mg/L (very hard), which can cause scale buildup in appliances and reduce soap effectiveness.

Contaminants detected in Baraboo water

Detection does not necessarily mean unsafe levels. See individual reports for concentrations and EPA limits.

Lead0.0081 / 0.015 mg/L
54% of EPA limit
Nitrate4.9 / 10 mg/L
49% of EPA limit
Arsenic0.0028 / 0.01 mg/L
28% of EPA limit
Copper42.3 / 1300 ug/L
3% of EPA limit
Radium3 / 5 pCi/L
61% of EPA limit
Uranium1.3 / 30 ug/L
4% of EPA limit
Gross Alpha Radiation14.1 / 15 pCi/L
94% of EPA limit
Total Trihalomethanes5.5 / 80 ug/L
7% of EPA limit
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)0.89 / 60 ug/L
1% of EPA limit
Nickel0.0404 mg/L
UnregulatedInorganic
Selenium0.0013 / 0.05 mg/L
3% of EPA limit
Fluoride0.6 / 4 mg/L
15% of EPA limit
Cyanide0.0021 / 0.2 mg/L
1% of EPA limit
Chromium (total)0.0037 / 0.1 mg/L
4% of EPA limit
Barium0.0401 / 2 mg/L
2% of EPA limit
Gross Beta8.2 / 50 pCi/L
16% of EPA limit
Simazine0.014 / 4 ug/L
0% of EPA limit
PFAS (tested — none detected)
Microplastics (not routinely tested)

Water systems serving Baraboo

BARABOO WATERWORKS

12,703 servedGroundwater17 contaminants4 above guidelines
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WEST BARABOO WATERWORKS

1,414 servedGroundwater23 contaminants5 above guidelines
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SUNNYSIDE ESTATES

135 servedGroundwater10 contaminants1 above guideline
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COZY ACRES MHP

80 servedGroundwater5 contaminants1 above guideline
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GLACIER VIEW SUBDIVISION

75 servedGroundwater8 contaminants1 above guideline
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Other cities in Sauk County

Water quality reports for nearby Wisconsin communities.

BaldwinGlenwood CityHammondNew RichmondRobertsSomersetStar PrairieWilsonWoodville

Frequently asked questions

Is Baraboo, WI tap water safe to drink?
Baraboo tap water meets EPA legal standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels). However, 12 contaminants are present above independent health guidelines, which are often stricter than legal limits. 17 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Arsenic, Copper, Radium. View the detailed report for each water system to see specific levels and how they compare to both legal limits and health guidelines.
What contaminants are in Baraboo water?
Monitoring has detected 17 contaminants in Baraboo's water supply: Lead, Nitrate, Arsenic, Copper, Radium, Uranium, Gross Alpha Radiation, Total Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Nickel, Selenium, Fluoride, Cyanide, Chromium (total), Barium, Gross Beta, Simazine. 12 exceed health guidelines. See individual system reports for concentrations relative to EPA limits.
Does Baraboo water have PFAS?
Baraboo's water has been tested for PFAS compounds with no detections. Testing was conducted as part of the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5) program.
Is Baraboo water hard?
Yes. Baraboo water has a hardness of 338 mg/L (very hard). Hard water is not a health concern but can cause scale buildup in water heaters and appliances, reduce soap effectiveness, and leave mineral deposits. Water softeners or conditioning systems can address hardness.
Where does Baraboo get its drinking water?
Baraboo's drinking water comes from groundwater wells that draw from underground aquifers. The water is treated and tested according to Wisconsin DNR and EPA requirements before distribution. Baraboo is served by 5 water systems, the largest being BARABOO WATERWORKS (serving 12,703 people).

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