Public water system · WI8040132
ActiveWashburn Waterworks
At a glance
Washburn Waterworks (PWSID WI8040132) is an active community water system in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. It reports serving 2,280 people through 844 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, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
2,280
Service connections
844
Primary source
GW
Groundwater
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Washburn Waterworks compare with other water systems in Bayfield County?
By EPA's size categories, Washburn Waterworks is a small system (501 to 3,300 people). Bayfield County has 194 active public water systems, and Washburn Waterworks is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 41 times the county average of 55 people per system, and accounts for 21% of the 10,732 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 Washburn Waterworks is about 66% 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 Washburn Waterworks?
EPA lists Washburn 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. 28 of the 194 active systems in Bayfield County (14%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Washburn Waterworks have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 are health-based, and the most recent began in October 2024. The violations listed here began between February 1994 and October 2024. By type: 5 contaminant level above the legal limit, 3 public notice, recordkeeping or other, 2 required treatment not met, 1 reporting and 1 monitoring and reporting. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Total coliform bacteria (TCR) (6 of them). EPA lists 10 as resolved and 2 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 | ReportingLSL Reporting · code 4G | 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 | 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 |
| 2018-01-11 | Required treatment not metFailure To Address Deficiency · code 45 | Groundwater Rulecode 0700 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2016-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
| 2014-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2014-06-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2011-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2010-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2009-07-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, Monthly (TCR) · code 22 | Total coliform bacteria (TCR)code 3100 | Yes | Resolved |
| 1994-02-01 | 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.
Washburn Waterworks: frequently asked questions
Who runs Washburn Waterworks?
Washburn Waterworks (PWSID WI8040132) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the WI state drinking water program.
How many people does Washburn Waterworks serve?
Washburn Waterworks reports serving 2,280 people through 844 service connections in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
Where does Washburn 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 Washburn Waterworks have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 7 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 Washburn 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, 7 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 Washburn Waterworks' water quality report?
As a community water system, Washburn 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 Bayfield County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron River Sanitary District | Bayfield | 600 | Community | Groundwater |
| Drummond Sanitary District | Bayfield | 500 | Community | Groundwater |
| Bayfield Waterworks | Bayfield | 488 | Community | Groundwater |
| Port Wing Sanitary District | Bayfield | 400 | Community | Groundwater |
| Mount Ashwabay | Bayfield | 220 | Transient non-community | Groundwater |
| Grace Baptist Church | Bayfield | 102 | 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, “Washburn Waterworks, PWSID WI8040132, Wisconsin”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/wisconsin/washburn-waterworks-wi8040132 (data as of October 1, 2026).