Water Quality Report
Columbus, WI
Columbia County · 5,173 residents · 1 water system
11
Contaminants detected
0
PFAS compounds
—
Hardness (mg/L)
0
Above legal limits
3
Above health guidelines
Columbus drinking water comes from groundwater wells. Based on the most recent monitoring data, 11 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Copper, Radium, and 7 others. PFAS testing has been conducted with no detections.
Contaminants detected in Columbus water
Detection does not necessarily mean unsafe levels. See individual reports for concentrations and EPA limits.
Lead0.0089 / 0.015 mg/L
59% of EPA limit
Nitrate0.12 / 10 mg/L
1% of EPA limit
Copper317 / 1300 ug/L
24% of EPA limit
Radium1.7 / 5 pCi/L
35% of EPA limit
Uranium1.5 / 30 ug/L
5% of EPA limit
Gross Alpha Radiation5.6 / 15 pCi/L
37% of EPA limit
Total Trihalomethanes13 / 80 ug/L
16% of EPA limit
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)7.1 / 60 ug/L
12% of EPA limit
Fluoride0.71 / 4 mg/L
18% of EPA limit
Styrene0.3 / 100 ug/L
0% of EPA limit
Barium0.0242 / 2 mg/L
1% of EPA limit
PFAS (tested — none detected)
Microplastics (not routinely tested)
Water systems serving Columbus
Other cities in Columbia County
Water quality reports for nearby Wisconsin communities.
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbus, WI tap water safe to drink?
Columbus tap water meets EPA legal standards (Maximum Contaminant Levels). However, 3 contaminants are present above independent health guidelines, which are often stricter than legal limits. 11 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Copper, Radium, Uranium. 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 Columbus water?
Monitoring has detected 11 contaminants in Columbus's water supply: Lead, Nitrate, Copper, Radium, Uranium, Gross Alpha Radiation, Total Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Fluoride, Styrene, Barium. 3 exceed health guidelines. See individual system reports for concentrations relative to EPA limits.
Does Columbus water have PFAS?
Columbus'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.
Where does Columbus get its drinking water?
Columbus'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. Columbus is served by one water system: COLUMBUS UTILITIES.
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