WaterVerge

Is Sullivan, WI Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Graded A, with 1 unresolved violation on record. See what was cited — and what it means for your tap. What to do next ↓

525 residents served 1 water system PWSID: WI1280114
Overall Score
91.6 / 100
Violations
1 active
Last Updated
May 2026
Source
Groundwater
#47 of 446 in Wisconsin Top 10% nationally
Private
Moderate data confidence
Reviewed by WaterVerge Editorial Team · Last updated May 2026
AGRADE
Water Quality Grade
91.6/100
waterverge.com
A 91.6/100

Sullivan, WI — Water Quality Report

Sullivan's drinking water received a grade of A (91.6 out of 100), indicating excellent water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 525 residents using groundwater.

Lead levels were measured at 0.5 ppb (90th percentile), well within EPA limits. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program.

The system has 3 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remains unresolved.

Data last updated: May 2026 · Source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5
Analysis

What to know about Sullivan's water

Sullivan ranks #47 out of 446 cities in Wisconsin for water quality, placing it above average in the state.

Sullivan relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff.

As a small community water system, Sullivan may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities.

Quality Breakdown

Water quality score

See methodology →
91.6 out of 100 Grade A
A: 90-100
B: 74-89
C: 60-73
F: <50
How is this calculated?
Violations
44.6/45
A
Historical violation record including health-based and monitoring violations.
Lead & Copper
20/20
A
Lead at 0.5 ppb (90th percentile).
Contaminants
17/20
B
PFAS + legacy contaminant analysis.
Compliance
5/10
D
Monitoring and reporting compliance with EPA regulations.
Source Risk
5/5
A
Water source: Groundwater.
Water Safety

Is Sullivan, WI water safe to drink?

Use Caution

Sullivan's tap water meets most EPA standards but has areas that warrant attention. With a grade of A (91.6/100), some contaminant levels or compliance issues suggest that residents may benefit from additional filtration. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 525 residents using groundwater (wells).

1
Active Violations
0.5 ppb
Lead (90th %ile)

Recent water quality updates for Sullivan

A timeline of significant water quality events, violations, and data updates.

Update
Water quality data updated

Latest EPA compliance and testing data incorporated into Sullivan's water quality assessment. Grade: A (91.6/100).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Violation
1 drinking water violation recorded

Contaminants: Coliform (TCR).

Key contaminant findings

Based on the most recent EPA sampling data for Sullivan's water supply.

Lead Within Limits
Detected: 0.5 ppb Limit: 15 ppb (EPA Action Level)

Well within EPA limits.

Violation history

Sullivan's water system has 3 total violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 1 remain unresolved.

MR
Most recent violations:
Nov 1998 Coliform (TCR) Resolved
Jul 1998 Coliform (TCR) Resolved

Where does Sullivan's water come from?

Sullivan's drinking water comes from groundwater (wells), supplied by 1 water system serving approximately 525 people. Groundwater is generally less susceptible to surface contamination but can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate.

What Sullivan residents can do

Request your utility's CCR

Your water utility is required to publish an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) with detailed testing results. Ask for the latest copy or check your utility's website.

Data: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5 (PFAS), FEMA, NOAA. Last updated May 2026.

Contaminant Alerts

Top contaminants to know

View all ↓
Lead (90th percentile)
Inorganic / Heavy Metal
Safe
0.5 ppb
EPA Action Level: 15 ppb · 3% of limit
Safe Level
Compliance Record

Violation summary

3
Total violations
0
Health-based
1
Active / unresolved
Nov 1998
Most recent violation
Compliance Record

Violations & advisories

3 Total
1 Active
0 Health-based
2 Resolved
Active
Compliance Violation
Monitoring 0
Nov 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Nov 1998
Jul 1998 Resolved
Coliform (TCR)
Monitoring & Reporting
Monitoring & Reporting Resolved Jul 1998
Industrial pollution

Top industrial polluters within 10 miles of Sullivan

Industrial polluters nearby

Reported releases to surface water by facilities near Sullivan, ranked by pounds discharged annually.

Total reported releases to surface water: 43 lbs

FacilityTop chemicalTo surface water (lbs/yr)Distance
WHITEWATER GENERATING STATION
Electric Utilities · WEC ENERGY GROUP
WHITEWATER, WI53190
Ammonia439.2 mi
MASTERMOLD LLC
Plastics and Rubber · MASTERMOLD LLC
JOHNSON CREEK, WI53038
9.8 mi
PREMOLD CORP
Plastics and Rubber · NA
OCONOMOWOC, WI53066
8.4 mi
VORTEQ COIL FINISHERS
Fabricated Metals · VORTEQ COIL FINISHERS LLC
OCONOMOWOC, WI53066
8.6 mi
ACE PRECISION
Fabricated Metals · ACE PRECISION MACHINING LLC
OCONOMOWOC, WI53066
7.0 mi

Source: EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) 2023

Full contaminants report

Contaminant Detected Level EPA Limit Unit Category Status
Lead (90th percentile) 0.5 15 ppb Inorganic Safe
Data source: EPA SDWIS, UCMR 5, local utility CCR.

Lead level trend (90th percentile)

EPA action level: 15 ppb
Lead has decreased by 3.5 ppb from 1993 (4.0 ppb) to 2024 (0.5 ppb).
Infrastructure

Water source & infrastructure

Primary Source
Groundwater
Operator
Private
Population Served
525
Water Systems
1
Water Source

Where Sullivan's water comes from

Groundwater

Sullivan's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.

Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals.

Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds.

The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 525 people through 1 water system.

Infrastructure

Water systems serving Sullivan

System Name PWSID Population Source
SPACIOUS ACRES MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY WI1280114 525 GW
Regional Comparison

How Sullivan compares

Full Wisconsin rankings →

Sullivan's score of 91.6/100 is above the average of 65/100 among major Wisconsin cities. It outscores 9 of 10 nearby cities.

Sullivan (this city)
91.6
Milwaukee
90.2
Madison
35.4
Racine
69.5
Kenosha
45.8
Wisconsin avg
65
City Profile

About Sullivan, WI

Economic Profile
$81,500
Median Income
$233,595
Median Home Value
$969/mo
Median Rent
5.2%
Unemployment
Community
40.4
Median Age
226
People / sq mi
21.2%
College Educated
46.9%
Homeownership
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Frequently asked questions

Is Sullivan, WI tap water safe to drink?

Sullivan's water quality earned a grade of A (91.6/100). The water generally meets EPA standards and is considered safe for consumption. The city ranks #47 out of 446 cities tested in Wisconsin.

What contaminants are in Sullivan's water?

Lead was measured at 0.5 ppb (90th percentile). 3 violations are on record.

How is Sullivan's water quality grade calculated?

The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.

Do I need a water filter in Sullivan?

Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.

Where does Sullivan's water come from?

Sullivan's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 525 residents.

Is Sullivan's groundwater at risk of contamination?

Sullivan uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 3 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.

How does Sullivan's water compare to other cities?

Sullivan ranks #47 out of 446 cities in Wisconsin (better than 89% of state cities) and #1622 out of 15744 cities nationally (90th percentile). The grade of A reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.

Does Sullivan's small water system affect quality?

Sullivan's system serves approximately 525 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 3 violations on record.