Public water system · WI8660304
ActiveShell Lake Waterworks
At a glance
Shell Lake Waterworks (PWSID WI8660304) is an active community water system in Washburn County, Wisconsin. It reports serving 950 people through 351 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
950
Service connections
351
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Shell Lake Waterworks compare with other water systems in Washburn County?
By EPA's size categories, Shell Lake Waterworks is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Washburn County has 128 active public water systems, and Shell Lake Waterworks is the 2nd-largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 13 times the county average of 75 people per system, and accounts for 9.9% of the 9,565 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 Shell Lake Waterworks is well below 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 Shell Lake Waterworks?
EPA lists Shell Lake 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 128 active systems in Washburn County (13%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Shell Lake Waterworks have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. The violations listed here began between October 2002 and July 2025. By type: 4 monitoring and reporting, 4 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 1 reporting and 1 required treatment not met. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (7 of them). EPA lists 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-02 | ReportingNotification, Known or Potential LSL · code 4H | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | No | Resolved |
| 2024-10-17 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Unaddressed |
| 2024-10-17 | Required treatment not metLSL Inventory · code 2E | Lead and Copper Rule Revisionscode 5200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2024-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingLead Consumer Notice · code 66 | Lead and Copper Rulecode 5000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2012-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-10-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherPublic Notification Violation for NPDWR Violation · code 75 | Public Noticecode 7500 | No | Resolved |
| 2009-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2008-11-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2002-11-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | No | Resolved |
| 2002-10-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Routine Minor (TCR) · code 24 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | 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.
Shell Lake Waterworks: frequently asked questions
Who runs Shell Lake Waterworks?
Shell Lake Waterworks (PWSID WI8660304) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WI state drinking water program.
How many people does Shell Lake Waterworks serve?
Shell Lake Waterworks reports serving 950 people through 351 service connections in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
Where does Shell Lake 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 Shell Lake Waterworks have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. 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 Shell Lake 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, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in July 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the WI state drinking water program.
Where can I find Shell Lake Waterworks' water quality report?
As a community water system, Shell Lake 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 Washburn County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spooner Waterworks | Washburn | 2,653 | Community | Groundwater |
| Minong Waterworks | Washburn | 561 | Community | Groundwater |
| Birchwood Waterworks | Washburn | 442 | Community | Groundwater |
| Northwood School | Washburn | 350 | Non-transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Birch Trail Camp for Girls Main Well | Washburn | 300 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Friends of Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary Main Camp | Washburn | 275 | 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, “Shell Lake Waterworks, PWSID WI8660304, Wisconsin”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/wisconsin/shell-lake-waterworks-wi8660304 (data as of October 1, 2026).