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Milwaukee Water Works
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has set new rates for water usage and fees. New rates take effect April 1, 2023.
Click here for a simple, easy-to read explanation of how 2023 rate increases for water charges will affect your household. Residential customers are billed quarterly, for three months of usage with each bill. For this reason, bills will not show the full effect of rate increases until after July 1. Bills received in May will reflect the increase for one of the three billing months. Bills received in June will reflect the rate increase for two of the three billing months. For a detailed explanation of all charges that appear on your Municipal Service Bill (local sewerage charge, storm water management charge, solid waste charge, snow and ice charge (once per year), street lighting charge, and all drinking water charges, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District charges) and detailed water rates by meter size and usage volume - as well as drinking water charges for suburban retail customers in Greenfield, Hales Corners, St. Francis and West Milwaukee, click here.
In Wisconsin, state law establishes that water rates are based on the cost of operations and to provide service, not household income levels. Water utilities cannot charge lower rates based on income because the Public Service Commission, which regulates water utilities, considers this a discriminatory practice.
Find Public Service Commission documents at the PSC website. Search by case number ("PSC Order") 3720-WR-109 (dated 3/2/23) or by utility name, for more information about the PSC order related to the 2023 rate increase. Copies of this PSC order are available at our Customer Service Center, 841 N. Broadway, 4th floor.
Rates for Hydrant, Water Connection, and Bulk Water Purchase Charges took effect April 1, 2023
Customer Service Center For billing and related questions:
414-286-2830
24-Hour Control Center For water emergencies only:
414-286-3710
414-286-5452 (Fax)
Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway, Room 406, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Monday - Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:45 PM
Obtain water service permits from Department of Neighborhood Services (DNS):
The Milwaukee Water Works provides drinking water service and billing for Milwaukee, Greenfield, Hales Corners, St. Francis, and West Milwaukee. We sell water service on a wholesale basis to Brown Deer, Butler, Franklin, Greendale, Menomonee Falls, Mequon, New Berlin, Shorewood, Thiensville, Wauwatosa, West Allis, and the Milwaukee County Grounds. The wholesale communities bill their customers for water service. Contact the municipal office in these municipalities for information about water charges.