Public water system · WI1110039
ActivePortage Waterworks
At a glance
Portage Waterworks (PWSID WI1110039) is an active community water system in Columbia County, Wisconsin. It reports serving 10,437 people through 3,714 service connections. Its primary water source is groundwater, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
10,437
Service connections
3,714
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Portage Waterworks compare with other water systems in Columbia County?
By EPA's size categories, Portage Waterworks is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Columbia County has 140 active public water systems, and Portage Waterworks is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 23 times the county average of 463 people per system, and accounts for 16% of the 64,780 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 Portage Waterworks is about 56% 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 Portage Waterworks?
EPA lists Portage 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. 16 of the 140 active systems in Columbia County (11%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Portage Waterworks have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003. The violations listed here began between January 1993 and December 2003. By type: 6 contaminant level above the legal limit and 6 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. 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.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2001-04-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2000-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1997-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1996-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-12-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Heptachlor epoxidecode 2067 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Alachlor (Lasso)code 2051 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Aldicarb sulfonecode 2044 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 2,4-Dcode 2105 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | 2,4,5-TP (Silvex)code 2110 | No | Resolved |
| 1993-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Heptachlorcode 2065 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent 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.
Portage Waterworks: frequently asked questions
Who runs Portage Waterworks?
Portage Waterworks (PWSID WI1110039) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WI state drinking water program.
How many people does Portage Waterworks serve?
Portage Waterworks reports serving 10,437 people through 3,714 service connections in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Where does Portage 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 Portage Waterworks have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003. 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 Portage 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. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 6 are health-based, and the most recent began in December 2003. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the WI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Portage Waterworks' water quality report?
As a community water system, Portage 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 Columbia County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Utilities | Columbia | 5,173 | Community | Groundwater |
| Wi Dot Rest Area 12 Dekorra West Bound | Columbia | 3,255 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Wisconsin Dells Waterworks | Columbia | 3,232 | Community | Groundwater |
| Lodi Waterworks | Columbia | 3,146 | Community | Groundwater |
| Poynette Waterworks | Columbia | 2,520 | Community | Groundwater |
| Wi Dot Rest Area 11 Dekorra East Bound | Columbia | 2,505 | Transient non-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, “Portage Waterworks, PWSID WI1110039, Wisconsin”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/wisconsin/portage-waterworks-wi1110039 (data as of October 1, 2026).