Office of African American Affairs
Affordable land and leasing costs, abundant fresh water, an educated workforce, low business costs and easy access to financing, technical assistance and efficient transportation have helped local businesses succeed and grow.
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Milwaukee Health Department
In Milwaukee, our drinking water is treated to reduce the risk of lead getting into our drinking water, but some older homes still have water pipes, called lead service lines, that bring water into their homes, or plumbing made of lead inside their homes. The City of Milwaukee Health Department Home Environmental Health Division recommends that families who live in homes with lead service lines and who have children under the age of 6, pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and breastfeeding women in the home take additional steps to further reduce their risk of lead exposure, including using a drinking water filter certified to remove lead. This is especially important for infants who drink formula made with tap water.
To find out if your home has a lead service line, you can look up your address on the Milwaukee Water Works page or by calling Milwaukee Water Works customer service at (414) 286-2830. For more information on additional steps you can take to reduce your risk of lead exposure through drinking water, visit our Drinking Water Safety page.
Home drinking water filtration systems can reduce or eliminate lead. Be sure to look for products certified by NSF/ANSI under Standard 53 for the removal of lead. Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines on the installation and maintenance of the product. Find products certified to remove lead through NSF International or Water Quality Association, or download a list of examples here (Open PDF).
Drinking water filters certified to remove lead (look for NSF/ANSI Standard 53) are widely available at hardware and home goods stores, as well as online retailers.