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What Homeowners Need to Know

Water Quality in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, WI is proud of its lakes, parks, and progressive reputation—but water quality remains a critical issue for many homeowners. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the city’s water contains 10 contaminants that exceed health-based safety standards. These include radium, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and traces of PFAS—all of which carry potential risks to long-term health.

The Madison Water Utility operates a large network of wells, many of which draw from deep sandstone aquifers. While the water is treated and monitored to comply with federal law, that doesn’t always mean it’s free from risk. Disinfectant byproducts form during treatment, and some of the city’s older pipes and well stations contribute to ongoing problems. If you live on the outskirts of Madison or in rural Dane County, private wells add another layer of uncertainty—exposing homeowners to agricultural runoff, arsenic, or legacy industrial contamination. If you’re concerned about what’s in your water, Water Doctors offers solutions that begin with free in-home testing and end with custom-designed treatment systems tailored to Madison’s unique water profile.
Water Quality in Madison Wisconsin
Know what’s in your Cedarburg WI tap water – EWG water quality awareness graphic

Contaminants of Concern in Madison’s Water

EWG.org Research (via ZIP Code for Madison, WI – 53703)

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the Madison Water Utility has 27 total contaminants, with 10 exceeding EWG health guidelines. These substances include disinfection byproducts, radioactive materials, and potential endocrine disruptors, which can pose serious health risks with long-term exposure.

  • Total contaminants exceeding health guidelines: 10

Top 10 Contaminants Detected (with tested levels):

  1. Chromium (hexavalent) – 0.27 ppb (13× EWG guideline)
  2. Radium (-226 & -228 combined) – 1.31 pCi/L (26×)
  3. Nitrate – 3.3 ppm (24×)
  4. Strontium – 880 ppb (no federal limit)
  5. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) – 9.4 ppb (94×)
  6. Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) – 21.7 ppb (145×)
  7. Bromodichloromethane – 2.3 ppb (38×)
  8. Chloroform – 6.1 ppb (20×)
  9. Vanadium – 0.34 ppb (11×)
  10. PFOS – 1.1 ppt (2×)
  • Key Notes on Water Findings: Madison’s water shows elevated levels of radioactive contaminants, disinfectant byproducts, and PFAS-related substances. While city systems meet EPA standards, EWG benchmarks flag health concerns—especially for pregnant women, infants, and immunocompromised individuals. Routine testing and point-of-use filtration systems are recommended for at-risk households.
View the EWG.org report for Brookfield

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:

  1. Water softeners for hard water problems
  2. Whole house filters for chlorine, odors, and sediment
  3. Reverse osmosis systems for safe, great-tasting drinking water
  4. 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

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 Madison

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 Madison Homeowners Choose Water Doctors

Water Doctors offers free in-home water testing throughout Madison, WI to help residents understand and resolve their water quality issues. Whether you’re on city water or a private well, our team uses certified testing and customized filtration to help families get safe, clean water. From reducing radium and PFAS to eliminating unpleasant tastes, odors, and chemicals, our systems are tailored for Madison’s unique geology and infrastructure. Schedule your free test today and take the first step toward better water.
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