Kenosha County, Wisconsin — public water systems

How does Kenosha County compare with other Wisconsin counties?

Kenosha County has the 9th-most active public water systems among the 90 counties listed for active Wisconsin systems in EPA records; among the 74 with 3 or more systems, the median has 140. Its systems report 137,235 people served in total, the 9th-largest county figure in the state and 2.6% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 605 people, about 29% above the Wisconsin average of 469. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Kenosha County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Kenosha County's active systems draw on groundwater (223, 98%), purchased surface water (3, 1.3%) and surface water (1, 0.4%). Overall, 98% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 1.8% on surface water, compared with 99% and 0.6% across Wisconsin. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Kenosha Water Utility, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Kenosha County?

Kenosha County's active systems break down as 37 community systems (16%), 33 non-transient non-community systems (15%) and 157 transient non-community systems (69%). 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. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (78%), local government (16%) and state government (5.3%).