Public water system · WI1130221
ActiveDeforest Waterworks
At a glance
Deforest Waterworks (PWSID WI1130221) is an active community water system in Dane County, Wisconsin. It reports serving 10,500 people through 3,888 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
10,500
Service connections
3,888
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Deforest Waterworks compare with other water systems in Dane County?
By EPA's size categories, Deforest Waterworks is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Dane County has 300 active public water systems. Its population served is about 6 times the county average of 1,742 people per system, and accounts for 2% of the 522,696 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Wisconsin, the 11,056 active systems average 469 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Deforest Waterworks is about 57% above that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. Wisconsin has 1,053 active community water systems, 9.5% of the state's 11,056 active systems. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. 10,978 Wisconsin systems (99%) list groundwater as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Deforest Waterworks?
EPA lists Deforest Waterworks as owned by a local government. The WI state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 74 of the 300 active systems in Dane County (25%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Deforest Waterworks have drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between March 1993 and October 2024. By type: 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 1 required treatment not met, 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (4 of them). EPA lists 5 as resolved and 1 as unaddressed. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed. Unaddressed means the violation is not resolved or archived and is not yet covered by formal enforcement.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2002-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-03-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
All 6 violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Deforest Waterworks: frequently asked questions
Who runs Deforest Waterworks?
Deforest Waterworks (PWSID WI1130221) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WI state drinking water program.
How many people does Deforest Waterworks serve?
Deforest Waterworks reports serving 10,500 people through 3,888 service connections in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Where does Deforest Waterworks get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as groundwater. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers.
Does Deforest Waterworks have any drinking water violations?
EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Deforest Waterworks' water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. EPA's records list 6 violations for this system; 4 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the WI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Deforest Waterworks' water quality report?
As a community water system, Deforest Waterworks must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Dane County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Water Utility | Dane | 272,000 | Community | Groundwater |
| Sun Prairie Utilities | Dane | 39,300 | Community | Groundwater |
| Fitchburg Utility Dist 1 | Dane | 24,500 | Community | Groundwater |
| Middleton Waterworks | Dane | 23,868 | Community | Groundwater |
| Waunakee Waterworks | Dane | 14,879 | Community | Groundwater |
| Verona Waterworks | Dane | 14,030 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Deforest Waterworks, PWSID WI1130221, Wisconsin”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/wisconsin/deforest-waterworks-wi1130221 (data as of October 1, 2026).