Appleton, WI Water Quality Report
Is Appleton tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Appleton, Wisconsin. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Appleton tap water safe to drink? Appleton tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 6.34 ppt across 2 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Appleton water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Appleton water: lithium (14 ppt), PFBA (0.01 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Appleton? Reverse osmosis removes 90%+ of PFAS, lead, and arsenic. NSF-53 certified pitcher and faucet filters (ZeroWater, Clearly Filtered, LifeStraw) work for smaller households. Skip standard Brita filters for PFAS removal.
Appleton Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Appleton drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 14 ppt across 4 water systems, representing an average of 6.34 ppt across 2 detected compounds.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- lithium: 14 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBA: 0.01 ppt
Lead in Appleton Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 23 lead samples for Appleton water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.011 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Appleton
Appleton public water systems have 2 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Chromium, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national drinking water survey in US history, covering 66,000+ public water systems. Population of Appleton: approximately 77,001.
ZIP Codes Served
What Appleton Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- Install an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis filter (removes 94-99% of PFAS)
- If you're in a high-exposure group (pregnant, young children), consider a PFAS home test kit
- Review your utility's Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually