Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — public water systems

How does Milwaukee County compare with other Wisconsin counties?

Milwaukee County has the 53rd-most active public water systems among the 90 counties listed for active Wisconsin systems in EPA records; among the 74 with 3 or more systems, the median has 140. Its systems report 952,731 people served in total, the largest county figure in the state and 18% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 11,209 people, about 24 times the Wisconsin average of 469. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Milwaukee County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Milwaukee County's active systems draw on groundwater (71, 84%), purchased surface water (9, 11%) and surface water (5, 5.9%). Overall, 84% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 16% on surface water, compared with 99% and 0.6% across Wisconsin. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Milwaukee Waterworks, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Milwaukee County?

Milwaukee County's active systems break down as 18 community systems (21%), 6 non-transient non-community systems (7.1%) and 61 transient non-community systems (72%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (69%) and local government (31%).