Milwaukee Waterworks
EPA ID: WI2410100 · 626,000 people served · 43 ZIP codes
Within the EPA compliance database, Milwaukee Waterworks shows 10 violations still pending resolution — a status that applies across the full service territory of approximately 626,000 people and reflects findings that have not yet cleared the federal enforcement process or received formal closure.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Milwaukee Waterworks Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Milwaukee Waterworks serves a community with a median household income of $61,640 and an estimated 795,299 residents across its service area. Approximately 85% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 49% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Milwaukee Waterworks's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 2% of homes in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Milwaukee Waterworks compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead at 1 mg/L (action level) exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.015 mg/L (action level). Brain damage in children, kidney & blood pressure in adults. Consider reverse osmosis filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 15 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead and Copper Rule at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Stage 2 DBP Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Lead was detected in this water system. reverse osmosis filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Milwaukee Waterworks (EPA ID: WI2410100) is a community water system in Wisconsin that serves approximately 626,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 43 ZIP codes across 2 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (76/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Stage 2 DBP Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 17, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| May 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| March 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Gross Alpha | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 15 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 8 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | No |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 4 | Yes |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2356 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53201 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53202 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53203 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53204 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53205 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53206 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53207 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53208 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53209 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53210 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53211 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53212 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53213 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53214 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53215 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53216 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53217 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53218 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53219 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 53220 | 0.0053 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 24 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 19 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 43 ZIP codes:
53201 · 53202 · 53203 · 53204 · 53205 53206 · 53207 · 53208 · 53209 · 53210 53211 · 53212 · 53213 · 53214 · 53215 53216 · 53217 · 53218 · 53219 · 53220 53221 · 53222 · 53223 · 53224 · 53225 53226 · 53227 · 53228 · 53233 · 53234 53235 · 53237 · 53244 · 53259 · 53263 53267 · 53268 · 53274 · 53278 · 53288 53290 · 53293 · 53295
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Milwaukee Waterworks (WI2410100) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milwaukee Waterworks water safe to drink?
Milwaukee Waterworks has recorded 2 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Milwaukee Waterworks serve?
Milwaukee Waterworks serves approximately 626,000 people across 43 ZIP codes in Wisconsin.
Where does Milwaukee Waterworks get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Milwaukee Waterworks (EPA ID: WI2410100) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.