Madison Tap Water Quality Report
Madison's water has 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. Consider using a certified water filter for additional protection.
5 other systems serving parts of Madison report results above guidelines — check which system bills you. LAKE FOREST WATER COOP (2 above guidelines), MENDOTA MENTAL HEALTH INST (2 above guidelines), PINE RIDGE APTS (2 above guidelines), WOODBRIDGE ESTATES (2 above guidelines), APPLEWOOD HILL (1 above guidelines)
Other systems listed for Madison with results above guidelines: SHADY HILL MOBILE HOME PARK (1 above guidelines)
Water system
MADISON WATER UTILITY
5 other systems also serve parts of Madison. 1 other system is listed for Madison. See their figures
People Served
272,000
Health-based violations since 2020
0
MADISON WATER UTILITY. EPA SDWA violation data as of Q2 2026 (downloaded 2026-07-09).
Latest sample on file
Jul 2025 · MADISON WATER UTILITY
Utilities publish newer results in their annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report).
Is Madison Tap Water Safe to Drink?
We recommend using a certified water filter for additional protection, especially for vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. Madison's water has 3 contaminants above EPA health-based guidelines (MCLGs), while it meets federal legal limits.
MADISON WATER UTILITY, Madison's water system, serves 272,000 people. 5 other systems also serve parts of Madison. 1 other system is listed for Madison. Each system's results are listed under its own name, never added to MADISON WATER UTILITY's. Water quality testing is conducted regularly and reported to the EPA. The latest sample on file for MADISON WATER UTILITY is from Jul 2025.
Boil water advisories are issued by water systems and state agencies, and they change from day to day. Boil water advisories in Wisconsin
Madison Water Service Areas
What these numbers actually mean for Madison, WI
We read Madison, WI’s published record and send you a short report — which findings warrant a decision, which to ignore, and what to do about it. Including when the answer is nothing.
- 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 18 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file)
- 159 results on file
- 23 PFAS compounds on record
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Recommended Water Filters for Madison
Based on Madison's water quality data, these NSF-certified filters are recommended to remove contaminants above EPA MCLGs.
Solventum Purification Inc.
3MRO401
NSF Certified:
Daily Production
11.48 gpd
Highlights:
- NSF-58 certified reverse osmosis system
- 11.48 GPD production capacity
- Reduces total dissolved solids (TDS) for purer water
Removes 15 contaminants:
+10 more
Copper, Cryptosporidium, Fluoride, Lead, Radium 226, Radium 228, Radium, combined (-226 & -228), Selenium, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity
Solventum Purification Inc.
3MRO301
NSF Certified:
Daily Production
11.48 gpd
Highlights:
- NSF-58 certified reverse osmosis system
- 11.48 GPD production capacity
- Reduces total dissolved solids (TDS) for purer water
Removes 15 contaminants:
+10 more
Copper, Cryptosporidium, Fluoride, Lead, Radium 226, Radium 228, Radium, combined (-226 & -228), Selenium, Total Dissolved Solids, Turbidity
AquaTru
Classic
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
0.04 gpm
Daily Production
600 gpd
Highlights:
- Best overall contaminant reduction score
- Most performance certifications
- Lifetime warranty
- NSF-42, NSF-53, NSF-58, NSF-401 certified
Removes 23 contaminants:
+18 more
Molybdenum, Barium, Chlorine, Arsenic, 83+ contaminants, Calcium, Chloride, Copper, Magnesium, Nitrate, Phosphorus, Sodium, Sulfate, Total Dissolved Solids, Zinc, Total THMs, Chloroform, Nitrate (as N)
AquaTru
Carafe
NSF Certified:
Flow Rate
0.3 gpm
Daily Production
4 gpd
Highlights:
- Verified PFAS reduction
- Glass collection vessel
- Plug-and-play installation
- NSF-53, NSF-42, NSF-58, NSF-401, NSF-372 certified
Removes 17 contaminants:
+12 more
Arsenic, 83+ contaminants, Copper, Total THMs, Chloroform, Chloride, Sulfate, Nitrate (as N), Molybdenum, Barium, Strontium, Uranium
Verify Your Water Quality with Independent Testing
With 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs and 18 contaminants with an EPA health goal detected in some samples (no level on file), independent laboratory testing provides a second opinion and can track changes over time.
SimpleLab
Advanced Home Water Test
$269
Comprehensive water analysis testing over 200 contaminants including bacteria, heavy metals, and chemical compounds.
Tap Score
Advanced Microplastics Test
$829
Cutting-edge testing for microplastics particles in drinking water using advanced laboratory techniques.
Tap Score
Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) Test
$275
Tests for disinfection byproducts formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water treatment.
With 3 contaminants above health guidelines, you may want to explore water purification options. Learn how to make distilled water at home for applications like humidifiers, CPAP machines, and baby formula.
What Madison's water readings can explain
Utility-reported data for Madison includes sulfate — the readings behind these common tap water questions. We publish a city-level hardness figure for Madison, resolved from its water systems where they report one and estimated from county sampling where they do not. Each page starts with the hot-tap and cold-tap check, then shows what your own water system reported.
On a private well near Madison? Public-water results do not apply to private wells. See Dane County well water testing and USGS risk data — modeled arsenic, nitrate, and the tests to run.
Water softener cost and installation in Madison
Madison's tap water measures 19.9 grains per gallon (341.0 mg/L) — very hard on the USGS scale, the range where scale on fixtures and appliances is the usual complaint.
Water softener cost for 19.9 gpg water in Madison — equipment and local installation labour for your ZIP code, with the sizing arithmetic shown in full. For the national picture first, read what a water softener costs — equipment, installation labour and ten-year ownership, each separated out. For Wisconsin as a whole, read water softener cost in Wisconsin — priced against the plumber wage published for the state.
Frequently Asked Questions About Madison Tap Water
Madison's water has 3 contaminants above EPA MCLGs. While the water meets federal legal limits, we recommend using a certified water filter for additional protection, especially for vulnerable populations like children, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.
Spotted something off on this page?
Residents keep our data honest.
This form corrects our data; it does not reach MADISON WATER UTILITY. For a problem with your water now (discolored water, no water, low pressure, a leak), contact MADISON WATER UTILITY directly.
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