Milwaukee's high quality water
Milwaukee Water Works drinking water quality meets all state and federal health standards for drinking water.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires water utilities to test for 90 regulated contaminants in an ongoing basis. The Milwaukee Water Works goes beyond those requirements and tests for over 450 known contaminants to assure you receive the highest quality water possible.
View our most recent Consumer Confidence Report in English .
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Bottled water vs. tap water
Milwaukee's drinking water meets all of the federal and state drinking water standards, so bottled water is not necessary. Choosing between tap and bottled water is a matter of personal preference.
We suggest you fill your empty water bottle with Milwaukee drinking water. Compared to the original price of the purchased bottled water, you are getting a bargain. The price for four gallons of Milwaukee drinking water is one cent.
With Milwaukee water, you're getting the benefits of highly regulated water quality along with fluoride for the health of your teeth.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires bottled water quality standards to be equal to those of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for tap water, but the government does not monitor the quality of the finished bottled water product. Bottlers must test their source water and finished product only once a year. The Milwaukee Water Works conducts a multitude of quality tests on a continuous basis.
Public water supplies must assess sources of potential contaminants, but federal rules specify no requirements, like setbacks from dumps, industrial facilities or underground storage tanks, for the protection of bottled water sources.
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The Role of Chlorine in Drinking Water
Chlorine is used as a disinfectant by most public water systems to kill harmful microorganisms during the water treatment
process. The use of
chlorine, in carefully controlled dosages, provides a significant public health improvement. The Milwaukee Water Works uses a liquid form of
chlorine.
As the water leaves the treatment plant, ammonia is added to change the free chlorine to chloramine. This is a very stable form of chlorine
disinfectant that maintains the residual protection in the distribution system. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires
water utilities to maintain a detectable level of disinfectant throughout the distribution system to maintain bacteriological protection.
The Disinfectants/Disinfection Byproduct Rule sets a maximum chlorine level of 4.0 mg/L (4.0 ppm) for finished water. The DNR requires the
water leaving a treatment plant to have a minimum chlorine level of 1.0 mg/L (1.0 ppm). The water leaving Milwaukee's two treatment plants has
an average chlorine residual level of 1.40 mg/L (1.4 ppm).
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Compromised immune systems - information
Some people are more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Persons with compromised immune systems are particularly at risk from infections. This could include persons undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly persons, and infants. These persons should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
The City of Milwaukee Health Department has prepared a pamphlet based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium. Copies of this pamphlet are available from the Milwaukee Health Department, 414-286-3606. Or, view a copy of the pamphlet online.
English or Spanish
Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the EPA
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Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic protozoan that when ingested, can result in diarrhea, fever, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. The organism is found in 97% of all surface water sources (lakes, rivers, streams).
The Milwaukee Water Works and the Milwaukee Health Department consider Cryptosporidium a priority. In partnership, the Milwaukee Water Works and the Milwaukee Health Department have tested the raw (untreated) and treated drinking water for Cryptosporidium since 1993. The risk of getting ill from Cryptosporidium in drinking water has been nearly eliminated by an effective multiple barrier treatment system including ozonation, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
Ozone is an extremely powerful disinfectant that is highly effective against Cryptosporidium. After ozone disinfection, the water is filtered to remove particles. MWW uses particle counters to continuously monitor the size range of particles that are the same size as Cryptosporidium. These particle counts help verify the quality of the water.
The Milwaukee Health Department monitors illness in the community for Cryptosporidium. If you think you may be ill with cryptosporidiosis, contact the Milwaukee Health Department Bureau of Nursing, 414-286-3521.
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Do not drink from garden hose
It is not safe to drink from garden hoses. Vinyl hoses are treated with chemicals so they stay flexible. These chemicals may be toxic which is why garden hoses should not be used for drinking purposes. Sunlight heats the hose, speeding up the leaching of chemicals from the hose.
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Do not drink from hot water tap
Water from the hot water faucet should not be used for drinking or food or beverage preparation. Hot water systems (tanks, boilers) contain metallic parts that corrode over time and contaminate the water. Hot water is more corrosive than cold water and is more likely to contain unhealthy compounds.
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Fish aquarium water information
Milwaukee Water Works water contains chloramines to keep the water bacteria-free after it leaves the water treatment plants. Chloramines are toxic to fish so aquarium keepers must dechlorinate Milwaukee drinking water before using it for fish. You can find dechlorinating agents at tropical fish and pet stores.
The amount of ammonia in Milwaukee water is not harmful to fish. The amount, less than 0.3 milligrams per liter, is below the detection level of the test kits typically used to test for ammonia in aquaria. Fish give off nitrogenous wastes that break down into ammonia. Also, be aware that ammonia tests are easily affected by ammonia that is present in cleaning products such as glass cleaner.
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Fluoride
Fluoride, in low levels in drinking water, is proven to help prevent tooth decay. Milwaukee has added fluoride to its water since 1953 when the Common Council enacted an ordinance directing its use.
The American Dental Association (ADA) endorsed fluoridation in 1950 and reaffirmed its endorsement in 1997. The American Medical Association also endorsed fluoridation and reaffirmed its use, in 1951 and 1996, respectively. The U.S. Public Health Service has also endorsed fluoridation. (Source: American Water Works Association)
Milwaukee follows the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendation for an optimal level for fluoride content in drinking water to be the in the range of 0.7 mg/L to 1.2 mg/L.
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Home brewers and hobbyists water quality information
Milwaukee's water is excellent for home brewers, exceptional in quality and its values are better than any standards set by water quality regulators.
The following general information will be helpful if you use Milwaukee tap water for brewing, aquariums, home photography, etc. See also FAQ Fish aquarium water information
Milwaukee's Water Quality
Typical Finished Water Values
| Parameter |
Average Value |
Range |
|
| Alkalinity |
100 mg/L (as CaCO3) |
90 - 110 |
| Calcium |
35 mg/L |
27 - 37 |
| Chlorine Residual |
0.95 mg/L |
0.3 - 1.3 |
| Conductivity |
305 uS/cm |
280 - 350 |
| Fluoride |
0.85 mg/L |
0.3 - 1.2 |
| Hardness |
7.5 grains per gallon |
7 - 9 |
| Hardness |
127 mg/L (as CaCO3) |
117 - 146 |
| Iron |
0.02 mg/L |
0.002 - 0.32 ppm |
| Nitrate, as N |
0.3 mg/L |
0.2 - 0.7 |
| pH |
7.45 |
7.2 - 7.9 |
| Potassium |
1.2 mg/L |
0.8 - 1.4 |
| Sodium |
7.6 mg/L |
6 - 12 |
| Temperature |
58° F |
32° - 70° F |
| Total Dissolved Solids |
177 mg/L |
125 - 195 |
| Turbidity |
< 0.4 NTU |
0.1 - 1.0 NTU |
|
Definitions:
< is "less than"
mg/L = milligrams per liter = ppm = parts per million
gpg = grains per gallon
NTU = nephelometric turbidity units
uS/cm = microsiemens per centimeter
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Lead and drinking water
Water is a minor contributor to the problem of lead poisoning, but the Milwaukee Water Works takes a proactive approach to protecting customers from lead in drinking water. The Milwaukee Water Works has not detected lead in its treated water or source water since it began testing for lead in 1992.
Water absorbs lead from solder, fixtures, and pipes found in the plumbing of some buildings and homes. Where high levels of lead are found in water, the most common sources are lead-based solder used to join copper pipe, faucets made of brass and chrome-plated brass, and in some cases, pipes made of lead that connect a home to the water main.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), two types of homes are primarily at risk from lead contamination from drinking water:
- homes built before 1940 with lead services or lead pipes
- homes built between 1982 and 1987, which used copper pipe with lead-based solder.
In 1986, Congress banned the use of solder containing more than 0.2% lead and restricted the lead content of faucets, pipes, and other plumbing materials. Houses that have copper services do not have measurable lead in the water.
The Milwaukee Water Works began a corrosion control program in 1996, which has resulted in a significant improvement in lead at customers' taps. We add a phosphorous compound to the water that forms a coating on the inside of pipes to prevent lead from leaching from plumbing materials into the water.
In accordance with EPA regulations, MWW has tested for lead every year since 1996 at selected "at-risk" homes identified by the EPA as containing certain plumbing features. If an individual home exceeds EPA action levels, the MWW advises those residents of the results and provides guidance on how to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water.
Most recent tests indicate Milwaukee water is in compliance with lead regulations. Concerned residents can take several precautionary steps to further limit possible exposure.
• Flush your kitchen water tap. This is a simple method to avoid high lead levels. Let the cold water run from the faucet, until noticeably colder, about one to two minutes, before using it for drinking or cooking any time the water in the faucet has been unused for more than a few hours.
• Do not cook with or drink water from the hot water tap. Hot water is more corrosive than cold water and is more likely to contain lead.
• To learn if lead is present in your home drinking water, arrange to test your water, at your own cost, by a state-certified laboratory.
Infants and young children are typically more vulnerable to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your house plumbing. For additional information call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline, 800-426-4791.
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Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs)
What You Need to Know
Today’s advanced water monitoring technology allows researchers to detect compounds from pharmaceuticals and personal care products in very small amounts in waterways and, in some cases, drinking water supplies. While research hasn’t demonstrated human health impacts at these levels, the water community continues to pay close attention to scientific developments in this area.
Just the Facts.
PPCPs are products that are used as pharmaceuticals or for personal care. They include antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicines, cough syrup, fragrances, hormones, and pain medication. They can be excreted from the body (usually in urine), flushed into toilets, and can pass through sewerage treatment plants into surface waters, rivers, etc.
Because water professionals have the technology today to detect more substances – at lower levels – than ever before, pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products are being found at very low levels in some of our nation’s lakes, rivers and streams.
The fact that a substance is detectable does not mean the substance is harmful to humans. To date, research throughout the world has not demonstrated an impact on human health from pharmaceuticals at the low levels found in some drinking water supplies.
The Milwaukee Water Works has tested source and finished water for some of the compounds targeted as Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (EDCs). None were detected in Milwaukee drinking water. Studies to date show that ozone disinfection effectively destroys most PPCPs, and ozone disinfection is the primary disinfection used by the Milwaukee Water Works.
Complete water quality test results are found elsewhere on the Milwaukee Water Works website at http://www.water.mpw.net/1waterquality.htm
However.
While pharmaceuticals and personal care products are rarely found even in very low levels in drinking water, some scientists are concerned about the possible cumulative effects of long-term exposure. While most pharmaceuticals and personal care products are known compounds, they may react in ways that are different from their intended purpose once they are introduced into the environment.
Disposal of unused medicines
The best and most cost-effective way to ensure safe water at the tap is to keep our source waters clean. As a society, we should encourage policies that protect source water from contaminants introduced by human activity.
You can help by not flushing unused medications down toilet or sink. Instead, find out if your pharmacy accepts medications for disposal, and watch for a local Medicine Collection Day. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District held such a collection day in April 2008.
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Radon
Radon is a known cancer-causing agent that leaches from soil into groundwater. There is no radon in Milwaukee's drinking water. Our source is Lake Michigan, a surface water source, and radon is not found in surface waters.
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Source of Milwaukee water
The source of Milwaukee's water is Lake Michigan, one of the five lakes that comprise the Great Lakes. By size, it is the third largest of the Great Lakes and is the only one of the lakes that is contained entirely inside U.S. borders. Lake Michigan holds just under 1,180 cubic miles of water, or 1.3 quadrillion gallons of water.
Lake Michigan is the sixth largest lake in the world. The lake is approximately 307 miles long and averages 75 miles across, covering an area of 22,400 square miles. That is equal to the combined areas of the states of Maryland, Massachusetts, and Delaware. Lake Michigan has 1,638 miles of shoreline including islands.
Lake Michigan is 335 feet above Lake Ontario and 577 feet above sea level. The lake averages 279 feet in depth and reaches 925 feet at its deepest point.
The lake's drainage basin is 45,600 square miles and includes portions of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. In Wisconsin, 30.7% of the land mass is within the Great Lakes Basin.
Lake Michigan's cul-de-sac formation means that water entering the lake circulates slowly and remains for a long time (retention) before it leaves the basin through the Straits of Mackinac. Scientists have calculated that the water in the lake replenishes over a period of 99 years.
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Water filters
It is not necessary to use a water filter, considering Milwaukee's highly effective water treatment system that uses ozonation, filtration, and disinfection.
Milwaukee water quality surpasses all state and federal regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires water utilities to test for 90 regulated contaminants on a regular basis. The Milwaukee Water Works goes beyond those requirements by testing for over 450 known contaminants.
Milwaukee's drinking water is rated among the highest quality in the nation. In an evaluation of tap water in 101 major U.S. cities, Milwaukee was one of 12 cities to receive a water quality grade of "A" from Men's Health Magazine.
If you choose to use a filter, identify what it is you wish to reduce/remove from the water and select a filter that will accomplish this. If you use a water filter, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for regular replacement of the filter.
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Water hardness
Water is said to be hard if the minerals calcium and magnesium are in the water. The more these naturally occurring minerals are present, the harder the water is considered. It is “hard” for soap to lather or make suds.
Milwaukee's water is considered moderately hard. Milwaukee water hardness can be reported in different measurements:
7.4 grains per gallon with a range of 7-9
127 parts per million (ppm)
127 milligrams per liter (mg/L)
0.9 millimole per liter (mM)
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Water treatment process
Click here for a diagram of our water treatment process.
The Milwaukee Water Works treats Lake Michigan water at two plants using state-of-the-art ozone disinfection and biological filtration treatment process with multiple-barrier protection.
The Linnwood Plant has 32 filters and the capacity to treat 275 million gallons of water per day. Water for the Linnwood Plant is drawn from an intake 6,565 feet from shore, five miles north of the Milwaukee harbor, at a point where Lake Michigan is 67 feet deep. The Linnwood Plant was completed in 1939.
The Howard Avenue Plant has eight filters and a capacity of 105 million gallons of water per day. Its intake is 11,600 feet from shore where lake water depth is 61 feet deep. The Howard Avenue Plant was completed in 1962.
Chlorine is added to the water at the two intakes. This chlorine is a minimal dose and is used to control the growth of zebra mussels inside the crib and intake tunnel.
Ozone gas is bubbled through the incoming lake water to provide primary disinfection. Ozone destroys illness-causing microbes, controls taste and odor, and reduces chlorinated disinfection byproducts.
At the end of primary disinfection, a quenching agent is added to remove any residual ozone. The agent reacts with ozone in water to form water and oxygen. The ozone supersaturates the water with oxygen, sometimes causing the water to look cloudy. There is an ozone destruct system should any ozone rise from the water into the air space above the water in the ozone contactor basins. There is no ozone in the water when it reaches our customers. We do not release ozone from the treatment plants into the environment.
The next step is coagulation. Aluminum sulfate (also known as alum) and polymer are added to the water. These chemicals bind with very fine particles and form into larger particles that are more effectively removed during the settling and filtering processes.
Settling is the process in which solid particles settle out and are removed from the water.
The next step is dual media filtration. The water is slowly filtered through 24 inches of anthracite coal and 12 inches of crushed sand in large basins to remove very small particles.
After filtration, liquid chlorine is added as a secondary disinfectant. This provides extra protection from potentially harmful microscopic organisms.
Fluoride is added to help prevent tooth decay.
A phosphorous compound is added to help control corrosion of pipes. This helps prevent lead and copper from leaching from plumbing into the water.
As the water leaves the plant, ammonia is added to change the free chlorine to chloramines, a disinfectant that maintains bacteriological protection in the distribution system.
All chemicals that are added are certified food grade, safe for use in foods.
Treated water is stored in deep underground tanks and also flows by gravity to pumping stations and into the distribution system. The distribution system consists of 1,960 miles of water mains ranging in diameter from 4" to 60". Pumping stations and re-pumping stations help maintain adequate water pressure in the system. Reservoirs, tanks, and towers are used to store water to meet demand during peak usage.
Safe, abundant drinking water is available 24 hours a day.
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City of Milwaukee | Department of Public Works
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