About Milwaukee Water Works
Delivering Safe, Reliable Water for Every Generation
Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) provides safe, clean, and reliable drinking water to nearly 867,000 people in 16 communities across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha counties. Every day, we work to ensure that when you turn on your tap, fresh water flows—supporting your health, your home, and your community.
Our Mission
We are committed to protecting and maintaining our water system for present and future generations, investing in our people, and delivering efficient, equitable, and reliable water service. Our focus is on providing high-quality drinking water while fostering trust, innovation, and public engagement.
How We Serve the Community
- Source: Water comes from Lake Michigan, carefully tested before treatment.
- Treatment: Water is cleaned, filtered, and disinfected to meet health standards.
- Delivery: Safe water is delivered through an extensive network of pipes, pumps, and hydrants.
- Monitoring: Water quality is continuously tested to ensure safety in every home and business.
Our Impact at a Glance
- Population served: Over 866,000 residents.
- Infrastructure: Nearly 2,000 miles of water mains, 19,889 hydrants, and 50,460 valves.
- Daily water treatment: Over 250 million gallons delivered each day.
- Employees: 345 across Plants, Distribution, Business, Engineering, and Water Quality.
- Daily per-person water use in Milwaukee: 41 gallons.
Service Area
Wholesale Customers
MWW serves 11 wholesale clients, who operate their own water utilities, bill customers, and maintain their distribution systems:
- Brown Deer
- Butler
- Greendale
- Menomonee Falls
- Mequon
- New Berlin
- Shorewood
- Thiensville
- Waukesha
- Wauwatosa
- West Allis
Retail Customers
MWW provides full water service—including billing and maintenance—to:
- Greenfield
- Hales Corners
- St. Francis
- Franklin (partial)
- West Milwaukee (billing only; maintains its own distribution system)
Investing in Our Future
We are committed to maintaining a safe, reliable water system and building an equitable, innovative workforce:
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Lead Service Line Replacement Program: Ensuring safe water for every home.
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Energy efficiency initiatives: Reducing environmental impact while keeping costs down.
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Workforce equity: In 2020, MWW partnered with local utilities and organizations to release An Equitable Water Future: Milwaukee, guiding strategies to strengthen collaboration, build awareness of water careers, and make workforce practices more equitable.
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Community programs: Educating residents about water safety, careers, and conservation.
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History & Milestones
- Founded: April 18, 1871
- Operations began: September 14, 1874
- Longest continuously operating water utility in Wisconsin.
- Historic recognition: Linnwood Plant and North Point Water Tower designated Water Landmarks.
- Ongoing investments: Over $500 million invested in infrastructure since the 1993 Cryptosporidium crisis to ensure safe, reliable water.