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About Milwaukee Water Works 

Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) is a national leader in providing high-quality, safe drinking water. 

Mission: Milwaukee Water Works is committed to protecting and maintaining its water system for present and future generations and investing in its employees to ensure efficient, equitable, and reliable water service. The utility’s focus is on delivering high-quality drinking water to every community in its service area while fostering trust and innovation as a public service provider.

Milwaukee Water Works is owned by the City of Milwaukee. Policy is set by the Mayor and Common Council. The utility adheres to regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for facilities, operations, and water quality. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) sets water rates and service charges and monitors Milwaukee Water Works’ accounting practices.

Building Sustainable Water Workforce Equity

In August 2020, MWW, in partnership with the US Water Alliance, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and other local leaders representing utilities, nonprofits, and philanthropy, released the first-ever report on strategies to build water workforce equity in Milwaukee.

The report, An Equitable Water Future: Milwaukee, will guide the local water community in developing a workforce that better reflects the diversity of the city's residents. The report outlines specific actions in three key areas:

  • Strengthening collaboration within the local water sector
  • Raising awareness about water careers
  • Changing workforce and procurement policies to promote equity

Water Purification and Service Area

MWW purifies water from Lake Michigan to provide pure, fresh drinking water to 866,993 people across 16 communities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Waukesha Counties. In addition to serving retail customers, MWW supplies water to 11 wholesale clients who manage their own water utilities and maintain distribution systems. The following is a list of MWW’s wholesale and retail customers:

  • Wholesale customers: Brown Deer, Butler, Greendale, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, New Berlin, Shorewood, Thiensville, Waukesha, Wauwatosa, West Allis
  • Retail customers: Greenfield, Hales Corners, St. Francis, Franklin (a portion), West Milwaukee (receives billing services from MWW but maintains its own distribution system)

Key operational data:

  • Average daily pumpage in 2020: 89.1 million gallons
  • MWW maintains: 1,960 miles of water mains, 19,889 hydrants, and 50,460 valves
  • Daily per-person water use in Milwaukee: 41 gallons (including indoor and outdoor usage)
  • The utility employs: 345 individuals across various work units, including Plants, Distribution, Business, Engineering, and Water Quality

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For more detailed information, view the following resources:

Awards and Recognitions

In September 2020, MWW was presented with the Utility Achievement Award for Ongoing Excellence by the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association (WIAWWA). This award recognized MWW for obtaining Department of Natural Resources (DNR) accreditation for its Water Quality Laboratory, which is certified for 30 water quality parameters, including Lead and Copper, using USEPA and Standard Methods. MWW’s Water Quality Laboratory continues to lead in research and collaboration.

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) also honored MWW with the 2016 Outstanding Subscriber Impact Award for Applied Research. This award recognized MWW’s efforts in responding to the 1993 Cryptosporidium crisis and its ongoing research into water treatment improvements. MWW’s continued involvement in WRF projects helps benefit the drinking water community, as seen in a related video.

Milwaukee Water Works is a national leader in providing high quality, safe drinking water.

Our mission: We are committed to protecting and maintaining our water system for present and future generations and investing in our people to ensure efficient, equitable, and reliable water service. Our focus is on delivering high-quality drinking water to every community in our service area, while fostering trust and innovation as a public service provider.

The Milwaukee Water Works, the US Water Alliance, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and other Milwaukee leaders representing local utilities, nonprofits, and philanthropy released the first-ever report on strategies to build water workforce equity in Milwaukee in August 2020. An Equitable Water Future: Milwaukee will guide the water community as it builds the water workforce to better reflect the diversity of its citizens. The report recommends specific actions in three categories:

  • Strengthen collaboration within the local water sector
  • Build awareness of water careers
  • Change workforce and procurement policies and practices to make them more equitable.

The Milwaukee Water Works is owned by the City of Milwaukee. Policy is set by the Mayor and Common Council. We adhere to regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for facilities, operations, and water quality. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) sets water rates and service charges and monitors our accounting.

We purify Lake Michigan water to provide pure and fresh drinking water to 866,993 people in 16 communities in Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Waukesha Counties.

In September 2020, the WIAWWA presented the Milwaukee Water Works with its Utility Achievement Award for Ongoing Excellence for obtaining DNR accreditation of its Water Quality Laboratory. The lab is certified for 30 water quality parameters, including Lead and Copper, using USEPA and Standard Methods. The MWW Water Quality Laboratory aims to continue to be a leader in research and collaboration.

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) honored the Milwaukee Water Works with its 2016 Outstanding Subscriber Award for Applied Research for the utility response during the two decades following the 1993 Cryptosporidium crisis. Read the Milwaukee Water Works ozone research story. 

The award honors utilities that successfully apply research to make notable improvements to their water treatment, delivery and management processes and "celebrates the persistence and dedication of some of WRF's most influential partners." Milwaukee continues to participate in WRF projects benefitting the drinking water community, as seen in a video here.

Investing in infrastructure continues to be a priority, banking on investments in the first 25 years after the Cryptosporidium crisis, $508 million, to ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water.

The Milwaukee Water Works was founded on April 18, 1871 and following construction of the actual “works,” began operations September 14, 1874. Read highlights of our first 150 years in our history brochure

We are proud to serve as the longest continuously operating water utility in Wisconsin. The Linnwood Water Treatment Plant was named a Water Landmark by the American Water Works Association in 2019. The plant has been continuously operating since 1939. The North Point Water Tower was designated a Water Landmark in 1969, the inaugural year of the award.

Honors for the Milwaukee Water Works

The Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association presented its 2016 Utility Special Achievement Award to the Milwaukee Water Works for working effectively with health and regulatory agencies to shape field and water quality monitoring activities and customer outreach to reduce lead at customers’ taps. Read about the Lead Service Line award.

The MWW water quality team was published nationally in January 2017 when the Journal of the American Water Works Association ran Milwaukee's research findings about lead and drinking water sampling, which were reviewed by the City of Milwaukee Health Department, Wisconsin Department of Health Services and Department of Natural Resources and EPA. Read "Lead Water Service Lines: Extensive Sampling and Field Protocol Protects Public Health"

Sustainability Practices

Milwaukee is enriched with an abundant water resource in Lake Michigan. Water treated and used is returned to the lake. The Milwaukee Water Works practices environmental stewardship, reducing its energy, carbon, and water footprints to use water wisely and conserve energy resources. Here's a diagram of how Best Practices Support Sustainable Water Systems.

Service Area Map  

(click to open full size PDF)

MWW serves 11 wholesale clients who operate their own water utilities, bill customers and maintain the distribution system.
Retail customers receive full water service from MWW, including customer billing and distribution system maintenance.

Wholesale customers

  • Brown Deer
  • Butler
  • Greendale
  • Menomonee Falls
  • Mequon
  • New Berlin
  • Shorewood
  • Thiensville
  • Waukesha
  • Wauwatosa
  • West Allis

Retail customers

  • Greenfield
  • Hales Corners
  • St. Francis
  • Franklin (a portion)
  • West Milwaukee receives billing services from MWW and maintains its own distribution system. 
North Point Tower

The North Point Water Tower

A national landmark, Milwaukee's 175-foot Victorian Gothic tower guards the bluff above Lake Michigan at 2288 N. Lake Dr. at North Avenue. It was part of the first water works in 1873. The tower houses a tall, open standpipe that absorbed pulsations of water from steam-driven engines in the pumping station below the hill.

Memberships
American Water Works Association Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies
Water Research Foundation Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association
US Water Alliance  
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