Madison
Madison, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
madison water utility
groundwater (wells) · local government · PWSID WI1130224
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 248,951 residents, Madison ranks as the 2nd-largest city in Wisconsin and a mid-sized city. Water in Madison is sourced chiefly from Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, and aquifers, the backbone of Wisconsin's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. Great Lakes access is abundant, but PFAS and nitrate contamination affect many private and municipal wells.
Statewide, Wisconsin recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Madison faces abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions.
The Wisconsin state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Madison's water future.
Dane County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~248,951 (2nd-largest in Wisconsin)
- Primary sources: Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, and aquifers
- Drought: abnormally dry to moderate conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Wisconsin in severe+ drought (Moderate (D1) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Madison?
Madison's largest water system, MADISON WATER UTILITY, serves about 272,000 people. EPA records show 1 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.8 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Madison get its water?
MADISON WATER UTILITY draws primarily from groundwater (wells), part of Wisconsin's supply from Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, aquifers.
Related water issues
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore