Ashland, WI

Moderate Risk (37/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.

Environmental data for Ashland in Wisconsin · Population: 16,050

TRI sites such as Xcel Energy Bay Front Plant; C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. Inc.; SDWIS systems such as ASHLAND WATER UTILITY; NEW ODANAH; GLIDDEN SANITARY DISTRICT; NPL sites such as Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront anchor Ashland, WI's EPA extract. Derived burden score 37/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Ashland include ASHLAND WATER UTILITY; GLIDDEN SANITARY DISTRICT; BUTTERNUT WATERWORKS, while Xcel Energy Bay Front Plant leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 34 / peak 101 in 2024.

Burden score 37/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Ashland -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

County population (Census ACS)
16,050
TRI Facilities
2
Water Systems
8
Superfund Sites
1
Total Releases
672.8K lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 331 (91%) 32 1 101
2023 272 (75%) 87 6 115
2022 334 (92%) 30 0 74
2021 282 (77%) 79 3 160
2020 336 (92%) 30 0 72
2024 Good Air Quality: 91% of days
Unhealthy days: 1
Median AQI: 34

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Wisconsin, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (8)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
ASHLAND WATER UTILITY 8,000 31
NEW ODANAH 1,839 0
GLIDDEN SANITARY DISTRICT 750 2
MELLEN WATER UTILITY 731 0
BIRCH HILL 322 0
BUTTERNUT WATERWORKS 283 14
FRANKS FIELD 242 0
ASPEN RIDGE 50 0

TRI Facilities (2)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Xcel Energy Bay Front Plant 672.8K lbs
2 C. G. Bretting Manufacturing Co. Inc. 26 lbs

Superfund Sites (1)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Ashland/Northern States Power Lakefront NPL Site 50.00

Cities in Ashland (6)

Ashland
3 facilities · 1 water
Odanah
0 facilities · 3 water
Butternut
0 facilities · 1 water
Glidden
0 facilities · 1 water
Highbridge
0 facilities · 1 water
Mellen
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Ashland, Wisconsin?
Ashland, WI has an environmental risk score of 37/100 (Moderate Risk), based on 2 TRI facilities, 1 Superfund sites, and 8 water systems on record. 3 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Ashland?
Yes, Ashland, WI has 1 Superfund site on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Ashland?
Ashland, WI has 2 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 672.8K lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Ashland?
In 2024, Ashland, WI recorded a median AQI of 34 and a peak AQI of 101. 91% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Ashland?
Ashland, WI has 8 EPA-regulated water systems. 3 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Ashland?
Environmental compliance in Ashland, Wisconsin is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Wisconsin state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro