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History & Background

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Background of Madison's Municipal Water Service (Madison Water Utility):

Madison's community water service began in 1880 with a petition to the Madison Common Council asking that a waterworks system be constructed. In 1880, Madison's population was 10,324.  The original Capitol building had been in place since 1869 and two new wings for it were proposed, with no fire protection capabilities beyond private wells, lake water, and water cisterns.

Madison Water Utility now provides water service to more than 62,000 locations in the City of Madison, Town of Madison, Shorewood Hills, Maple Bluff, Blooming Grove, and Town of Burke.

A deep, high-quality aquifer beneath the city is the source of our water supply.  As the city grows and expands, the utility must continue to plan for and add wells, storage, pumping equipment, and new and replacement pipe to meet demand for safe water, to address quality issues and supply issues as they arise, and to work with the community to responsibly manage the resource.