Public water system record
Pence Waterworks
Serves Pence, Iron County, WI · 191 people served
Federal records show 2 health-based violations and 6 monitoring/reporting issues for Pence Waterworks in the last ten years. The most serious issue in this window was a resolved Groundwater Rule violation.
System profile
- Health-based violations, last 10 years
- 2
- Resolved
- 2
- Unresolved
- 0
- Any acute record
- No
- Monitoring issues, last 10 years
- 6
Key facts
- Pence Waterworks buys its water from Montreal Waterworks.
- Highest measured level in the last 10 years: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), 80.9 µg/L, federal limit 80 µg/L (at or just above the limit), 2018.
- Most recent formal enforcement: compliance order (no penalty) by Wisconsin, November 2019.
- Record on file since 1991, with 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016.
- Lead pipe inventory: 0 lead and 16 unknown out of 97 service lines.
Check whether Pence Waterworks serves your address
Health-based violations
Since October 2016Violation data reflects EPA records through March 2026. For the most current status, visit the EPA ECHO database.
| Contaminant | Rule family | Start date | Status | Acute |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Groundwater Rule
Treatment technique failure
|
140 | Sep 2, 2025 | Resolved | No |
|
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Contaminant limit exceeded
Measured 80.9 µg/L, federal limit 80 µg/L (at or just above the limit)
|
220 | Oct 1, 2018 | Resolved | No |
Monitoring and reporting issues
Since October 2016Missed tests or reports, not contaminants found above a limit.
| Issue | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
May 2, 2018 | Resolved |
|
Lead and Copper Rule
Monitoring and reporting
|
Jun 1, 2017 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Feb 8, 2016 | Resolved |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Oct 1, 2011 | Active |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Oct 1, 2011 | Active |
|
Public Notice
OTHER
|
Oct 1, 2009 | Active |
Full record since 1991
EPA's records for Pence Waterworks go back to 1991. Before October 19, 2016 they list 2 health-based violations (2 resolved) and 66 monitoring or reporting violations.
| Violations that began in | Health-based | Monitoring and reporting |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2 | 39 |
| 2000s | 0 | 12 |
| 2010 to October 18, 2016 | 0 | 15 |
| October 19, 2016 to 2019 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020s | 1 | 0 |
Most recent health-based violation before October 19, 2016: Total Coliform, began August 1996, Resolved.
Show all 2 health-based violations before October 19, 2016
| Contaminant | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Aug 1, 1996 | Resolved |
|
Total Coliform
Contaminant limit exceeded
|
Dec 1, 1994 | Resolved |
Enforcement actions
Wisconsin regulators and EPA took 2 formal enforcement actions against Pence Waterworks and issued 2 boil water orders between 1995 and 2019. The most recent was a compliance order (no penalty) in November 2019.
| Date | By | Action | Violations covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2019 | Wisconsin | Compliance order (no penalty) | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) |
| Feb 8, 2012 | EPA | Compliance order (no penalty) | 4 violations: Consumer Confidence Rule |
| Sep 3, 1996 | Wisconsin | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
| Jun 11, 1995 | Wisconsin | Boil water order | 1 violation (1 health-based): Total Coliform |
What the violations mean
Groundwater Rule
1 incidentThe system did not complete a treatment step or action that the Groundwater Rule requires (a treatment technique violation).
The utility had to notify customers about this violation.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
1 incidentDisinfection byproduct levels exceeded the federal limit
Long-term TTHM exposure may increase bladder cancer risk
Where the water comes from
Pence Waterworks buys its water from Montreal Waterworks. It lists no wells or intakes of its own.
Buys water from
- Montreal Waterworks Montreal, WI
Annual water quality report
Pence Waterworks must give its customers an annual water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) by July 1, with the levels its tests found in the previous year.
Systems serving 500 or fewer people may meet the rule by telling customers the report is available on request, so you may need to ask Pence Waterworks for a copy.
Find a posted report with EPA's Consumer Confidence Report search
Testing your own water
To test the water at your tap, or a private well this record does not cover, use a laboratory certified for drinking water by Wisconsin.
Certified drinking water labs by state EPA guidance for private wells