Water Quality
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"We'll be doing this forever." Understanding the impact of PFAS Posted 12/03/2019
UW Madison researcher launches new PFAS study in Wisconsin as concerning picture emerges --- Read more » -
Flushing program puts Madison "on the forefront" Posted 04/05/2019
(Water main flushing in Madison starts in April of each year . Find out when crews will be working in your neighborhood on Madison Water Utility's water main flushing page.) Read more » -
Widely used chemicals detected in two Madison wells Posted 07/27/2018
Questions about your water quality? Call our water quality department: (608) 266-4654 (Photo: Sample bottles for perfluorinated compounds testing) --- Read more » -
What does your water dollar pay for? Posted 07/28/2017
The average family living in a house in Madison pays just over $19 a month for water. (Other charges like sewer, stormwater, landfill and urban forestry also appear on the Municipal Services Bill, but those charges are not levied by Madison Water Utility.) So how exactly does that money get spent? Here's a look: Read more » -
Saving Madison from salt Posted 07/13/2017
Updated Tuesday, October 17, 2017 - 8:43am MWU looks for solutions as road salt infiltrates a major West Side drinking water well (Photos: About half of the road salt used in Madison is spread on parking lots, sidewalks and driveways.) Read more » -
Madisonians cite safety and conservation as top water issues Posted 10/05/2016
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Water main flushing puts Madison "on the forefront" Posted 04/04/2016
--- It’s a tall order. Every spring, Madison Water Utility crews set out to clear mineral sediment from some 800 miles of water main. They spend months moving from neighborhood to neighborhood, opening up more than 2,500 fire hydrants to flush iron and manganese out of the city’s water pipes. Read more » -
EPA looks to Madison as leader on lead pipe issue Posted 01/04/2016
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Taking safety seriously: The story behind water chlorination Posted 08/28/2014
"...one kid every 8 seconds is dying because a simple thing like chlorination of drinking water is not there." -Dr. Marty Kanarek, UW Madison ---- Read more » -
Flushing program puts Madison "on the forefront" Posted 04/15/2014
Every day, Brad Rothenburger drives down the streets of Madison, stopping at each fire hydrant he passes. He greases them, flushes them, takes their temperature in the wintertime, checks for leaks, and makes sure each and every one is ready to do its job in an emergency. Read more » -
Paying for Progress Posted 02/25/2014
"A huge impact" Every single water customer pays it, but you won't see it on a bill. It's called PILOT, or "Payment in Lieu of Taxes," and the charge comprises about 16% of a customer's water payment each billing cycle. Read more » -
Why all the main breaks? Posted 01/08/2014
Aging infrastructure meets extreme weather It's 1:00 a.m. on a brutally cold Monday morning, and the call comes in – a six-inch wide water main has ruptured beneath East Badger Road. It's the first of 8 main break calls that will push Madison Water Utility crews to work back-to-back shifts for the next 24 hours. Read more » -
Going in the hole: Madison Water Utility crews take on main break season Posted 12/16/2013
The breaks begin It's Friday morning in Madison, and the rush to work is underway. But on the city's southeast side, five co-workers have already been on the job for hours, dealing with a stream of water pouring down otherwise-frozen Buckeye Road. It's the city's 18th water main break in 8 days. Read more » -
Madison Water Utility builds new water mains -- inside the old ones Posted 10/31/2013
Embracing new technology Imagine Badger Rd. completely gutted – nothing but dirt and gravel, impassable for months. Same story for West Mifflin St. and Lake Mendota Drive. It's what would have happened had Madison Water Utility chosen to dig up and replace the aging water mains that run beneath those streets. Read more » -
Well hunters: Finding Madison's long-hidden private wells Posted 10/22/2013
Going door-to-door Kevin Miller has been knocking on a lot of doors lately, but he's not selling anything. He's searching for something. I usually say, 'I'm here to look for private wells.' And then I get the questions, 'Why would you be doing that?'" Read more »