Environmental Stewardship

Milwaukee has an abundant water resource in Lake Michigan, which contributes to a high quality of life and a reliable supply of fresh drinking water. Milwaukee Water Works uses Lake Michigan water and returns it to the lake.

As a steward of Milwaukee’s water resources, Water Works takes responsibility for protecting and managing Lake Michigan’s water supply for current and future generations. It implements sustainable practices to reduce energy use, carbon emissions, and water waste while purifying and distributing drinking water.

Water Works also prioritizes infrastructure improvements, water loss prevention, energy efficiency, operational efficiency, and consumer advocacy to ensure long-term sustainability and responsible water management.

Water Centric City

The City of Milwaukee’s Water Centric City Initiative recognizes the importance of water as essential to a sustainable and resilient future, and Water Centric Cities showcase leadership in managing natural water resource assets in a sustainable and resilient way.

Milwaukee’s success as a Water Centric City is driven by collaboration among government, academia, businesses, and non-profits.

Together, these partners are making Milwaukee a global hub for water innovation and restoration.

Click here to learn more

Discover Milwaukee's Water Story

The Water Current Tour is a self-guided walking tour featuring educational signs and artwork. It takes visitors through Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, the Water Technology District, and the Harbor District, showcasing key water-related sites such as the Global Water Center, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Sciences, and Harbor View Plaza.

Tour Stops Include: Harley-Davidson, Rockwell Automation, Confluence Point, Boone & Crockett, Paliafito Eco-Arts Park, Harbor View Plaza, and the Global Water Center.

Use the Water Tour Map to Plan Your Trip

Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

Mayors of cities that rely on the Great Lakes for their population and economy have formed a bi-national coalition called the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. This organization works with federal, state, and provincial governments to protect and restore the Great Lakes ecosystem through a comprehensive Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Plan. Mayors are active participants in Great Lakes issues relating to governance, economics and science.

Mayor's Commission on Water Equity

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson became a co-chair of the Mayor's Commission on Water Equity in September, 2022.

Read Mayor Johnson's testimony at the Commission's September 2022 field hearing on barriers to equitable implementation of the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, here.

Help Protect Lake Michigan – Milwaukee’s Source Water

Safely Dispose of Unused Medicine, Household Hazardous Waste, and Electronics.

A clean source of water is essential to public health. Milwaukee Water Works monitors Lake Michigan and treated drinking water for regulated and unregulated contaminants, including pharmaceuticals. While trace amounts of these substances are found in lake water, none have been detected in treated drinking water.

Proper disposal of medicines and household chemicals helps prevent pollution in Lake Michigan:

Household hazardous waste
For information on collection, visit the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) website.

Unused medicines
For information on safe disposal, visit the MMSD website.

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