Water Quality Report
West Salem, WI
La Crosse County · 5,370 residents · 3 water systems
12
Contaminants detected
0
PFAS compounds
—
Hardness (mg/L)
0
Above legal limits
3
Above health guidelines
West Salem drinking water comes from groundwater wells. Based on the most recent monitoring data, 12 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Copper, Radium, and 8 others. PFAS testing has been conducted with no detections.
Contaminants detected in West Salem water
Detection does not necessarily mean unsafe levels. See individual reports for concentrations and EPA limits.
Lead0.0013 / 0.015 mg/L
9% of EPA limit
Nitrate0.003 / 10 mg/L
0% of EPA limit
Copper101 / 1300 ug/L
8% of EPA limit
Radium1.2 / 5 pCi/L
24% of EPA limit
Gross Alpha Radiation2.9 / 15 pCi/L
19% of EPA limit
Total Trihalomethanes6.1 / 80 ug/L
8% of EPA limit
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)15 / 60 ug/L
25% of EPA limit
Selenium0.001 / 0.05 mg/L
2% of EPA limit
Fluoride0.663 / 4 mg/L
17% of EPA limit
Styrene6.1 / 100 ug/L
6% of EPA limit
Mercury (inorganic)0.0001 / 0.002 mg/L
5% of EPA limit
Barium0.016 / 2 mg/L
1% of EPA limit
PFAS (tested — none detected)
Microplastics (not routinely tested)
Other cities in La Crosse County
Water quality reports for nearby Wisconsin communities.
Frequently asked questions
Is West Salem, WI tap water safe to drink?
West Salem 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. 12 contaminants have been detected in the water supply, including Lead, Nitrate, Copper, Radium, Gross Alpha Radiation. 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 West Salem water?
Monitoring has detected 12 contaminants in West Salem's water supply: Lead, Nitrate, Copper, Radium, Gross Alpha Radiation, Total Trihalomethanes, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Selenium, Fluoride, Styrene, Mercury (inorganic), Barium. 3 exceed health guidelines. See individual system reports for concentrations relative to EPA limits.
Does West Salem water have PFAS?
West Salem'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 West Salem get its drinking water?
West Salem'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. West Salem is served by 3 water systems, the largest being WEST SALEM WATERWORKS (serving 5,045 people).
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