Milwaukee Water Works Releases 2024 Water Quality Report

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Water Works (MWW) has released its 2024 Annual Water Quality Report, providing residents with clear and comprehensive information about the safety, treatment, and quality of their drinking water.

Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) require public water utilities to publish a Water Quality Report—also known as a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). This report helps customers understand where their water comes from, how it is treated, and how it meets rigorous federal and state standards.

The 2024 report highlights include:

• Over 30,000 water quality tests conducted for more than 500 regulated and unregulated substances

• Continued compliance with the federal Lead and Copper Rule, with a 90th percentile lead level of 5.3 parts per billion for testing conducted in 2023 —well below the EPA action level

• Seven PFAS compounds detected at very low levels, far below the Wisconsin regulations of 70 parts per trillion and below the upcoming federal regulations as well.

• A detailed look at the multi-step treatment process used to clean and safeguard Milwaukee’s drinking water from Lake Michigan

• Public health guidance for individuals with compromised immune systems and tips for protecting water quality at home

“We go above and beyond state and federal requirements to monitor water quality, testing for hundreds of additional substances to ensure the highest safety standards,” said Patrick Pauly, Superintendent of Milwaukee Water Works. “Our rigorous sampling and treatment processes underscore our commitment to protecting public health and providing Milwaukee residents with reliable, safe drinking water every day.”

By reviewing the report, residents can make informed decisions about their health and how they use and protect Milwaukee’s water resources. The report is available in English and Spanish.

Independent Evaluation Shows High Marks for Health and Transparency

In a recent statewide evaluation by the Wisconsin Waterworks Excellence Project (WWEP) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, MWW received top grades in key performance areas:

• Water Quality – Health: A (91.1)

• Communications: A (93.8)

• Finance: B (87.0)

• Infrastructure & Operations: D (64.1)

These results affirm Milwaukee Water Works’ commitment to delivering safe drinking water and maintaining public transparency. The lower grade in Infrastructure and Operations highlights ongoing challenges shared by many public utilities—particularly the continuing need to invest in aging infrastructure.

WWEP aims to improve public visibility into how water utilities are performing across the state. View Milwaukee’s full report card here: Milwaukee Water Works 2024 Report Card

To learn more or read the full 2024 Water Quality Report, visit milwaukee.gov/WaterQuality.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.