Portage County, Wisconsin — public water systems

How does Portage County compare with other Wisconsin counties?

Portage County has the 33rd-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 50,348 people served in total, the 26th-largest county figure in the state and 1% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 340 people, about 27% below 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 Portage County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Portage County's active systems draw on groundwater (148, 100%). Overall, all rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and none 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, Stevens Point Waterworks, draws primarily on groundwater.

What kinds of water systems operate in Portage County?

Portage County's active systems break down as 10 community systems (6.8%), 10 non-transient non-community systems (6.8%) and 128 transient non-community systems (86%). 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 (76%), local government (22%) and state government (2%).