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What Homeowners Need to Know

Water Quality in Waunakee, Wisconsin

Waunakee, WI has earned its reputation as a family-friendly village with strong schools and steady growth—but residents should be aware of what’s in their tap water. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has identified 9 contaminants in the village’s water that exceed health-based safety limits, including radium, nitrates, and trihalomethanes. These substances are linked to a range of long-term health issues such as cancer, hormonal disruption, and reproductive harm.

The village’s municipal wells draw from aquifers known for naturally occurring radioactive materials and heavy metals, while treatment processes may introduce byproducts like TTHMs and HAA5. Households using private wells face further risks, especially from agricultural runoff, arsenic, or bacterial contamination—yet many go years without testing. Water Doctors provides free in-home testing and filtration solutions tailored to Waunakee’s unique geology and infrastructure. Learn what’s in your water and take steps to protect your health.
Waunakee, Wisconsin
Know what’s in your Cedarburg WI tap water – EWG water quality awareness graphic

Contaminants of Concern in Waunakee’s Water

EWG.org Research (via ZIP Code for Waunakee, WI – 53597)

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reports 24 total contaminants in Waunakee’s water utility, with 9 exceeding EWG health-based safety limits. These include radioactive elements, disinfectant byproducts, and substances tied to cancer and reproductive risks.

  • Total contaminants exceeding health guidelines: 9

Top 10 Contaminants Detected (with tested levels):

  1. Radium (-226 & -228 combined) – 1.27 pCi/L (25× EWG guideline)
  2. Nitrate – 3.6 ppm (26×)
  3. Chromium (hexavalent) – 0.23 ppb (11×)
  4. Haloacetic acids (HAA5) – 9.2 ppb (92×)
  5. Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) – 20.9 ppb (139×)
  6. Bromodichloromethane – 2.1 ppb (35×)
  7. Chloroform – 6.3 ppb (21×)
  8. Vanadium – 0.32 ppb (11×)
  9. Strontium – 860 ppb (no federal limit)
  10. PFOS – 1.0 ppt (2×)
  • Key Notes on Water Findings: Waunakee’s water contains elevated levels of radium, disinfection byproducts, and nitrates, some of which exceed EWG’s safety limits by over 100 times. While legal under federal law, these contaminants are associated with serious health risks over time. Testing and at-home filtration systems are recommended.
View the EWG.org report for Waunakee

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 Waunakee

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 Waunakeed Homeowners Choose Water Doctors

Water Doctors is proud to serve Waunakee, WI with free in-home water testing and expert treatment solutions. Our team helps homeowners understand the risks in their tap water and offers science-backed filtration systems tailored to city and well water. Whether you’re dealing with radium, nitrates, chlorine byproducts, or PFAS, we offer solutions that bring clean water to your home. From reverse osmosis to whole-home filtration, we’ve got Waunakee covered. Schedule your free water test today and feel confident in every drop.
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