Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
milwaukee waterworks
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID WI2410100
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
Milwaukee, WI is a major U.S. city, with a population near 600,155 and the largest community in Wisconsin. Like much of Wisconsin, Milwaukee draws its water primarily from Great Lakes, Wisconsin River, and aquifers.
Milwaukee's water outlook is shaped most by aging infrastructure — the issue that dominates planning across Wisconsin. Great Lakes access is abundant, but PFAS and nitrate contamination affect many private and municipal wells.
Milwaukee sits in a state that reuses roughly 3% of treated wastewater (minimal programs) and currently experiences abnormally dry to moderate drought.
For the bigger picture, see the Wisconsin state water profile and the related issues below.
Milwaukee County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~600,155 (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 Milwaukee?
Milwaukee's largest water system, MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS, serves about 626,000 people. EPA records show 0 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 5.3 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Milwaukee get its water?
MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), 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