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Madison Water Utility

Water Utility

Tom Heikkinen, General Manager

  • Founded in 1882

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  1. City of Madison
  2. Water Utility
  3. Inside MWU

Water Quality

  • "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 on April 8th. 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

    Read more »
  • 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

    Read more »
  • 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 »

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Recent Articles

  • 01/11 WI Salt Awareness Week examines environmental damage caused by road salt
  • 05/18 Reopening soon? Make sure your water is safe.
  • 04/15 Staying at home is changing the way Madison uses water
  • 02/06 “Got Water?” project announces 2020 hydration station schools!

Archive

2021
January
  • WI Salt Awareness Week examines environmental damage caused by road salt
2020
May
  • Reopening soon? Make sure your water is safe.
April
  • Staying at home is changing the way Madison uses water
February
  • “Got Water?” project announces 2020 hydration station schools!
January
  • Madison Water Utility reports unprecedented drop in city’s water use
2019
December
  • "We'll be doing this forever." Understanding the impact of PFAS
November
  • Final segment of decade-long water main project underway
September
  • EVERY DROP MADISON poll closes soon!
August
  • Average aquifer levels highest in a generation
June
  • Toilet Rebate Program hits 1 billion gallons of water saved!
  • Lost Lou and Peter Barryman tune about conservation gets new life.
April
  • Worst-case: What happens when a water main breaks under an airport taxiway?
  • Flushing program puts Madison "on the forefront"
February
  • Wild February weather takes toll on water mains
January
  • Annual water use in Madison drops by a billion gallons in six years
  • “Got Water?” initiative reaches more than 11,000 students
2018
October
  • Imagine a Day Without Water
September
  • Madison Water Utility adds first new well in more than a decade
August
  • High school students get hands-on training at MWU
July
  • Widely used chemicals detected in two Madison wells
  • A funny song about a serious thing
April
  • What’s under Monroe Street?
March
  • Two Madison Water Utility projects getting national attention
February
  • Finding Madison's foxes
January
  • Water use in Madison drops to lowest level in 50 years
2017
December
  • Worst winter ever? Lessons learned from the "polar vortex" winter of 2013-14
  • Catching catastrophic plumbing problems -- through email
October
  • Imagine a Day Without Water
September
  • 100 miles of main
August
  • A funny song about a serious thing
July
  • What does your water dollar pay for?
  • Saving Madison from salt
May
  • Bidding farewell to Madison’s “legacy” main
March
  • Partnership with Project Home making an impact
February
  • What does your water dollar pay for?
  • Into the bore hole: Tackling the road salt problem at a west side well
January
  • Madison Water Utility turns 135!
2016
December
  • Saving Madison from salt
November
  • Reminder: The Great Showerhead Giveaway happening this Saturday!
October
  • Madisonians cite safety and conservation as top water issues
September
  • Imagine a day without water
August
  • You can now register to vote at Madison Water Utility!
  • Why add chlorine? The story behind water disinfection
July
  • You have a voice! MWU seeks public input on critical water issues
April
  • Water main flushing puts Madison "on the forefront"
March
  • How low can we go?
February
  • Why all the main breaks?
January
  • EPA looks to Madison as leader on lead pipe issue
2015
November
  • World War II-era journals discovered at construction site
October
  • Saving Madison from salt
August
  • Planned Blackhawk Water Tower signals growth on the far west side
  • MWU invests millions in water infrastructure on northeast side
  • Madison woman gets serious about water conservation, wins an iPad
July
  • MWU customers catch plumbing leaks – online
June
  • All eyes on the aquifer: Is Madison's water supply sustainable?
May
  • MWU releases Annual Water Quality Report
April
  • Our graywater experiment: 10 years and counting
January
  • No easy answers for Well 8
  • Frozen on the inside: Indoor flooding season is here
2014
December
  • As Safe Drinking Water Act turns 40, Madison ramps up testing
November
  • EPA seeks details of Madison’s Lead Service Replacement Program
October
  • Madison Water Utility first in state to launch "ultimate conservation tool"
September
  • The Water Wagon: A cool lesson in sustainability
  • New downtown community garden takes root in unlikely spot
August
  • Taking safety seriously: The story behind water chlorination
June
  • East Johnson Street: No Ordinary Construction Zone
  • Major public works project set to begin on north side
May
  • When there's a fire: MWU's critical mission
April
  • Wisconsin Water for the World: Making a difference one village at a time
  • Flushing program puts Madison "on the forefront"
March
  • When winter's over: the lasting impact of road salt
  • Blindsided: When drivers don't see work zones
February
  • Paying for Progress
  • The winter that won't be forgotten
January
  • The long road to smart meters
  • Why all the main breaks?
2013
December
  • Going in the hole: Madison Water Utility crews take on main break season
  • Frozen on the inside: Indoor flooding season is here
November
  • Madison getting its first new water well in a decade
  • Rebuilding pride in Paterson
  • Lake View Reservoir reconstruction sparks neighborhood interest
October
  • Madison Water Utility builds new water mains -- inside the old ones
  • Well hunters: Finding Madison's long-hidden private wells
  • Madison women make history -- with a little help from their friends
  • Bad Medicine
September
  • Sometimes, it's what you don't see
  • Rediscovering the reservoir
  • MWU honored for winning Best-Tasting Water in the state!
August
  • Unearthing Madison's history
  • Our graywater experiment: 8 years and counting
  • Wisconsin's first ever women's tapping team created at MWU

Category

Uncategorized

  • A funny song about a serious thing

  • Reminder: The Great Showerhead Giveaway happening this Saturday!

  • Flushing program puts Madison "on the forefront"

  • Paying for Progress

  • The long road to smart meters

  • Going in the hole: Madison Water Utility crews take on main break season

  • Madison getting its first new water well in a decade

  • Rebuilding pride in Paterson

  • Lake View Reservoir reconstruction sparks neighborhood interest

  • Madison Water Utility builds new water mains -- inside the old ones

  • Well hunters: Finding Madison's long-hidden private wells

History

  • What’s under Monroe Street?

  • Finding Madison's foxes

  • Bidding farewell to Madison’s “legacy” main

  • Madison Water Utility turns 135!

  • World War II-era journals discovered at construction site

  • EPA seeks details of Madison’s Lead Service Replacement Program

  • Rediscovering the reservoir

  • Unearthing Madison's history

Our People

  • Worst-case: What happens when a water main breaks under an airport taxiway?

  • Imagine a Day Without Water

  • High school students get hands-on training at MWU

  • Worst winter ever? Lessons learned from the "polar vortex" winter of 2013-14

  • Imagine a day without water

  • MWU releases Annual Water Quality Report

  • EPA seeks details of Madison’s Lead Service Replacement Program

  • Madison women make history -- with a little help from their friends

  • Sometimes, it's what you don't see

  • MWU honored for winning Best-Tasting Water in the state!

  • Wisconsin's first ever women's tapping team created at MWU

Serving the Community

  • “Got Water?” project announces 2020 hydration station schools!

  • Final segment of decade-long water main project underway

  • Toilet Rebate Program hits 1 billion gallons of water saved!

  • Worst-case: What happens when a water main breaks under an airport taxiway?

  • Wild February weather takes toll on water mains

  • “Got Water?” initiative reaches more than 11,000 students

  • Imagine a Day Without Water

  • Madison Water Utility adds first new well in more than a decade

  • High school students get hands-on training at MWU

  • Two Madison Water Utility projects getting national attention

  • Imagine a Day Without Water

  • What does your water dollar pay for?

  • Partnership with Project Home making an impact

  • What does your water dollar pay for?

  • You can now register to vote at Madison Water Utility!

  • Planned Blackhawk Water Tower signals growth on the far west side

  • MWU invests millions in water infrastructure on northeast side

  • Frozen on the inside: Indoor flooding season is here

  • Madison Water Utility first in state to launch "ultimate conservation tool"

  • The Water Wagon: A cool lesson in sustainability

  • New downtown community garden takes root in unlikely spot

  • East Johnson Street: No Ordinary Construction Zone

  • Major public works project set to begin on north side

  • When there's a fire: MWU's critical mission

  • Wisconsin Water for the World: Making a difference one village at a time

  • Blindsided: When drivers don't see work zones

  • The winter that won't be forgotten

  • Frozen on the inside: Indoor flooding season is here

  • Bad Medicine

Sustainability

  • WI Salt Awareness Week examines environmental damage caused by road salt

  • Staying at home is changing the way Madison uses water

  • Madison Water Utility reports unprecedented drop in city’s water use

  • Final segment of decade-long water main project underway

  • EVERY DROP MADISON poll closes soon!

  • Average aquifer levels highest in a generation

  • Toilet Rebate Program hits 1 billion gallons of water saved!

  • Lost Lou and Peter Barryman tune about conservation gets new life.

  • Flushing program puts Madison "on the forefront"

  • Wild February weather takes toll on water mains

  • Annual water use in Madison drops by a billion gallons in six years

  • Madison Water Utility adds first new well in more than a decade

  • A funny song about a serious thing

  • Water use in Madison drops to lowest level in 50 years

  • Catching catastrophic plumbing problems -- through email

  • 100 miles of main

  • Saving Madison from salt

  • You have a voice! MWU seeks public input on critical water issues

  • How low can we go?

  • Why all the main breaks?

  • Madison woman gets serious about water conservation, wins an iPad

  • MWU customers catch plumbing leaks – online

  • All eyes on the aquifer: Is Madison's water supply sustainable?

  • Our graywater experiment: 10 years and counting

  • Madison Water Utility first in state to launch "ultimate conservation tool"

  • When winter's over: the lasting impact of road salt

  • Why all the main breaks?

  • Bad Medicine

  • Our graywater experiment: 8 years and counting

Water quality

  • Reopening soon? Make sure your water is safe.

  • "We'll be doing this forever." Understanding the impact of PFAS

  • EVERY DROP MADISON poll closes soon!

  • Imagine a Day Without Water

  • Widely used chemicals detected in two Madison wells

  • Saving Madison from salt

  • Into the bore hole: Tackling the road salt problem at a west side well

  • Saving Madison from salt

  • Madisonians cite safety and conservation as top water issues

  • Why add chlorine? The story behind water disinfection

  • Water main flushing puts Madison "on the forefront"

  • EPA looks to Madison as leader on lead pipe issue

  • Saving Madison from salt

  • No easy answers for Well 8

  • As Safe Drinking Water Act turns 40, Madison ramps up testing

  • Taking safety seriously: The story behind water chlorination

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Water Utility

Water Utility Administrative Office
119 East Olin Avenue
Madison, WI 53713
  • Report Main Break/Emergency: (608) 266-4661
  • Report Emergency After Hours: (608) 266-4665
  • Office: (608) 266-4651
  • Fax: (608) 266-4426
  • Office Hours: 7:30am - 4:00pm, M-F
  • Drinking Water Concerns/Questions
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