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What Homeowners Need to Know

Water Quality in Fitchburg, Wisconsin

If you live in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, you may wonder what’s really in your tap water. While the city’s water systems meet federal regulations, reports from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveal multiple contaminants in local groundwater supplies that exceed health-based guidelines. These include nitrate, radium, and disinfection byproducts — all of which can pose health risks over time.

Fitchburg draws from municipal wells and groundwater systems, serving thousands of homes in neighborhoods like Rimrock, Cahill Main, and Fitchburg Utility Districts. Hard water is common, and certain minerals can damage appliances, stain fixtures, and leave residents with dry skin and hair. If you’ve noticed odd tastes, smells, or stains in your home, now is a good time to investigate.

Our team at Water Doctors helps homeowners in Fitchburg take proactive steps to understand and improve their water. From no-cost testing to whole-house filtration, we make clean water accessible, personalized, and reliable.

Water Quality in Fitchburg, Wisconsin
Know what’s in your Cedarburg WI tap water – EWG water quality awareness graphic

Contaminants of Concern in Fitchburg’s Water

EWG.org Research (via ZIP Code for Fitchburg, WI – 53711)

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Fitchburg’s three primary public water systems show a total of 24 contaminants per the EWG health guidelines. These include cancer-linked substances, disinfection byproducts, and naturally occurring radioactive materials that pose health risks with prolonged exposure.

Total contaminants exceeding health guidelines: 9

Top 10 Contaminants Detected (with tested levels):

  1. Nitrate – 4.36 ppm (31× EWG guideline)
  2. Radium (-226 & -228 combined) – 1.27 pCi/L (25×)
  3. Strontium – 1000 ppb (no federal limit)
  4. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) – 6.9 ppb (69×)
  5. Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) – 18.3 ppb (122×)
  6. Chromium (hexavalent) – 0.24 ppb (12×)
  7. Arsenic – 0.45 ppb (4×)
  8. Vanadium – 0.38 ppb (12×)
  9. Barium – 100 ppb (below EPA limit, flagged by EWG)
  10. Manganese – 180 ppb (neurotoxic risk in infants)

Key Notes on Water Findings:

  • Nitrate levels are especially concerning due to agricultural runoff in Dane County.
  • Radium poses long-term cancer risks and is found across multiple wells.
  • Disinfection byproducts (TTHMs and HAA5) form during standard treatment but are linked to bladder cancer.
  • Manganese and barium are flagged by EWG as unregulated or loosely regulated substances that may affect vulnerable populations.
  • Though Fitchburg’s water complies with federal legal limits, EWG’s stricter standards reveal risks for pregnant women, infants, and immune-compromised individuals.
  • Home filtration—especially reverse osmosis and carbon systems—is recommended for protection.
View the EWG.org report for Fitchburg

Solutions to Common Issues

Choosing the Right Water Treatment for Your Home

Not all water is the same and neither are the solutions. Whether your water comes from a city supply or a private well, it can carry different minerals, chemicals, or contaminants that affect your home and health.

That’s why it’s important to look at all four key options:

Water softeners for hard water problems

Whole house filters for chlorine, odors, and sediment

Reverse osmosis systems for safe, great-tasting drinking water

Iron filters for rust stains and rotten egg smells

Your water source and the issues it brings will help determine which system (or combination) is right for you.

Water Softener

Hard water has minerals like calcium and magnesium that cause issues around your home. A water softener removes them for cleaner, better-feeling water.

Hard water can:

  • Leave spots on dishes
  • Make soap and shampoo less effective
  • Cause buildup on faucets and showerheads
  • Shorten the life of appliances
  • Dry out your skin and hair

A water softener:

  • Removes hard minerals
  • Helps soap work better
  • Protects appliances
  • Makes water feel soft on skin

If you see signs of hard water, a softener is a smart fix.

Water Softeners

Drinking Water System

Even if your tap water looks clean, it can still contain dissolved solids, chemicals, or contaminants you don’t want to drink. Reverse osmosis gives you highly purified water, right at the tap.

Unfiltered drinking water can have:

  • Chlorine, lead, or other chemicals
  • Nitrates, fluoride, or heavy metals
  • Cloudiness or bad taste
  • Pollutants from old pipes or plumbing

A reverse osmosis system:

  • Removes up to 99% of contaminants
  • Improves taste, clarity, and odor
  • Gives you bottled-quality water at home
  • Fits neatly under the kitchen sink

If you want cleaner, safer, better-tasting drinking water, RO is the gold standard.

Drinking Water Systems

Need an Iron Filter

If your water leaves orange stains or smells like metal or rotten eggs, iron could be the problem. An iron filter removes it before it damages your home.

Iron in water can:

  • Leave orange or brown stains in sinks, tubs, and toilets
  • Make water smell metallic or like rotten eggs (if sulfur is present)
  • Clog plumbing and damage appliances
  • Affect the taste of your water and food
  • Turn laundry yellow or dingy

An iron filter:

  • Removes iron, manganese, and sulfur odors
  • Protects pipes, water heaters, and fixtures
  • Stops staining and metallic smells
  • Keeps water clear and fresh

If your water looks rusty or smells off, an iron filter can make a big difference.

Whole House Water Filter

Tap water can carry things you don’t want—like chlorine, sediment, rust, or even odd tastes and smells. A whole house filter cleans the water before it reaches any faucet.

Unfiltered water can:

  • Smell or taste bad
  • Leave stains in sinks, tubs, and toilets
  • Carry chlorine or other chemicals
  • Irritate skin or worsen allergies
  • Let sediment build up in pipes and appliances 

A whole house filter:

  • Removes chlorine, rust, dirt, and odors
  • Improves water taste and smell
  • Protects pipes, fixtures, and appliances
  • Provides clean water from every tap
Iron Filters & Whole Home Systems
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Expert Advice, Exacting Science.

Get a Free Water Test in Fitchburg

Wondering what’s in your water? Schedule a free in-home water test and get professional insight into your home’s water quality. Our local team will test your water and recommend the right solution based on your results.

No pressure. Just clear answers and better water.

Call (262) 549-7733 or use our easy online scheduler now!

Why Fitchburg Homeowners Choose Water Doctors

Want peace of mind about the water in your Fitchburg home? Schedule your free in-home water test with Water Doctors today. Our certified experts will test for common local issues—like nitrates, radium, iron, and chlorine—right at your tap. We’ll explain your results clearly and recommend personalized solutions, whether you need a softener, filter, or advanced system like reverse osmosis. With decades of experience serving southern Wisconsin, we know how to solve Fitchburg’s unique water challenges. Let’s protect your health, your home, and your peace of mind. Book your free test now.
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