Skip to content

City water profile

Madison water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for Madison, Wisconsin.

Median indexed hardness

375PPM

13 indexed ZIPs

Range 365.5–394 PPM

State comparison
87 PPM above
State hardness rank
#80 of 479
Matched utilities
10
Active health records
0

City summary

What the indexed records say

Madison has 13 published ZIP profiles across Dane County. The indexed median is 375 PPM, compared with 288 PPM across Wisconsin.

Among the 479 Wisconsincities with an indexed median, Madison ranks #80from highest to lowest. Across all 556 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 41.3to 467 PPM.

The 365.5–394 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label. At least one estimate is marked low confidence, so observation distance and date deserve extra attention.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs
Moderately hard0 ZIPs
Hard0 ZIPs
Very hard13 ZIPs

13 of 13 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance
31.1 miles
Profiles with evidence
13/13

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 0Low: 13

Observation window: Aug 3, 2016 to Aug 20, 2024.

ZIP directory

Water reports in Madison

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

53703

Very Hard

382 PPM

Nearest site
30.9 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53704

Very Hard

375 PPM

Nearest site
27.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53705

Very Hard

371 PPM

Nearest site
31.4 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53706

Very Hard

371 PPM

Nearest site
31.2 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53713

Very Hard

378.5 PPM

Nearest site
33.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53714

Very Hard

388 PPM

Nearest site
29.8 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53715

Very Hard

378.5 PPM

Nearest site
32.5 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53716

Very Hard

382 PPM

Nearest site
32.2 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53717

Very Hard

371 PPM

Nearest site
29 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53718

Very Hard

394 PPM

Nearest site
30.3 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53719

Very Hard

365.5 PPM

Nearest site
30.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53726

Very Hard

371 PPM

Nearest site
31.5 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

53792

Very Hard

371 PPM

Nearest site
31.1 mi
Confidence
Low

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

Madison Water Utility

PWSID WI1130224

Groundwater
System population served
272,000
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Mendota Mental Health Inst

PWSID WI1130235

Groundwater
System population served
2,787
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Shorewood Hills Waterworks

PWSID WI1130236

Groundwater
System population served
1,670
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Maple Bluff Waterworks

PWSID WI1130234

Groundwater
System population served
1,342
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Lake Forest Water Coop

PWSID WI1130232

Groundwater
System population served
400
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Applewood Hill

PWSID WI1130244

Groundwater
System population served
125
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Lake Pointe Apts - Well 1 5320-5326

PWSID WI1132499

Groundwater
System population served
60
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Lake Pointe Apts - Well 2 5312-5318

PWSID WI1132500

Groundwater
System population served
60
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Lake Pointe/marina Bay

PWSID WI1132557

Groundwater
System population served
50
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Woodbridge Estates

PWSID WI1133471

Groundwater
System population served
48
Last reported
May 29, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

RecordSystemPeriodStatus
Lead and Copper RuleWI1130244Jan 1, 2025Resolved
Lead and Copper RuleWI1132627Jan 1, 2025Resolved
Revised Total Coliform RuleWI1130232Nov 17, 2024Resolved · health-based
Revised Total Coliform RuleWI1130232Nov 17, 2024Resolved
Public NoticeWI1130224Oct 17, 2024Unaddressed
LEAD AND COPPER RULE REVISIONSWI1130224Oct 17, 2024Resolved · health-based
Public NoticeWI1130236Oct 17, 2024Unaddressed
Public NoticeWI1130234Oct 17, 2024Unaddressed
Public NoticeWI1130232Oct 17, 2024Unaddressed
Public NoticeWI1130232Oct 17, 2024Unaddressed

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

  1. 1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
  2. 2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
  3. 3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Questions people ask

About water in Madison

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 375 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.