City of Madison Water Utility

09/30/2026

SOURCE WATER PROTECTION WEEK 💧
How does Madison Water Utility protect our source water?
Through our Wellhead Protection Program!

The program identifies and manages the areas where groundwater flows toward our drinking water wells. Protecting these areas helps keep contaminants out of the groundwater before it ever reaches your tap.

Protect the source. Protect the water. 💦

See the plans for each of our wells: https://www.cityofmadison.com/water/water-quality/wellhead-protection-program

09/29/2026

Protecting source water starts with knowing where your water comes from. Our community’s drinking water comes from water stored in an underground aquifer deep beneath our feet. This Source Water Protection Week, we’re joining AWWA in recognizing the importance of protecting the rivers, lakes, reservoirs and groundwater we rely on.

09/28/2026

At Madison Water Utility we often get a lot of questions about wastewater. Drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater are three separate systems in the City of Madison.

How is our wastewater recycled into clean, renewable resources? Our friends at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District offer free tours on the first Friday of the month to help us all understand what happens to water after it goes down the drain.

On this free tour, you'll follow the path of water as it's transformed from dirty wastewater to clean water and other renewable resources. You'll learn about the role of wastewater treatment in the water cycle and your role in keeping water clean for the future.

Learn more and RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-friday-wastewater-plant-tours-tickets-482674030017?fbclid=IwY2xjawUndQ5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMW5WRDB0NjNqUktWQ2lwWnJzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEesB4ETBCwxtCMDNhQR1NNpVA6E82qRIXCMh2UqqMBFgCyD_vm-5wKovkmlRk_aem_80rsgwm5rV5WojA0yroOuw

09/27/2026

MAIN BREAK! W-8 Crew has been dispatched to repair a water main break @ 6018 N Highlands Avenue. If you are driving/riding through this area, please use caution while crews are at work.

During main breaks, if your water service is not shut off, minimize usage. Conserve water as much as possible until the main is fully fixed.

If your water service is temporarily turned off, once it is restored, FLUSH YOUR FAUCETS. Run your cold water taps starting in the lowest area of your home for a few minutes until the water runs completely clear. Avoid using hot water first so you do not pull any potential sediment into your water heater.

09/25/2026

Today ends the State's official PFAS Awareness Week, but our collective work never ends. As we say here at MWU, "The best way to ensure clean tap water is to keep pollution out of source water in the first place." Explore the Department of Natural Resource's website for info about PFAS and the PFAS Interactive Data Viewer to learn about how PFAS may impact local communities statewide.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s.

09/24/2026

Join Library, City, and State officials for the Friday, September 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park, hosted by Madison Public Library, City of Madison Engineering, Madison Parks, and Madison Public Library Foundation. Following the ribbon cutting, neighbors and residents are invited to an opening weekend of activities, including building tours, a how-to corner, nature walks, food trucks, a movie in the park, and more.

MWU's Water Wagon will be there on Saturday! Learn more about the Imagination Center Library's grand opening at

Come celebrate the opening of the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park with a series of Grand Opening events at 1814 Parkside Dr.

09/23/2026

Native landscapes are GREAT for water conservation and so much more. This locally-written article explains the benefits of keeping leaves on your property, and what to do with your leaves instead of piling them by the curb. Read it at

Note: this page is a work in progress. Please check back over time as we add additional resources and photos. Be sure to check out the Leave the Leaves yard signs toward the bottom of the page! Contents on this page: Leave the Leaves? Tree Leaves Have Many Benefits By Jan Axelson, Megan Saucke, Jim....

09/22/2026

Madison Water Utility conducts routine flushing to keep our water system clean and the City's valves and hydrants in tip top shape. As we head into autumn, prep your yard for leaf pickup and help our crews continue to flush:
🍁Pile your leaves and yard waste on the terrace, or on the grass at the edge of the street. Do not put leaves in the street.
🍁Keep yard waste 5 feet away from trees, cars, utility poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and other obstructions.

09/21/2026

Join us for a free tour of a working water well and get a behind-the-scenes look at where your drinking water comes from. You’ll learn how water travels from Madison’s remarkable underground aquifer to your faucet and meet some of the people who help make it happen every day.

This free event is open to all ages. Street parking is available near the wellhouse. https://sciencenearme.org/we-are-water-open-house

09/18/2026

The 2026 American Water Works Association Conference wraps up today here in Madison! Our Madison Water Utility team looks forward to this event every year—a chance to connect with water professionals from across the country, share ideas, and learn what’s ahead for our industry.

Some of the big topics this year? AI, data centers, and their impact on water. And a big congratulations to our tapping team who will be advancing on to the Nationals in San Diego!

Always learning. Always looking ahead. 💧