Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS
MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 626,000 residents in MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline.
Is MILWAUKEE tap water safe to drink?
MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 626,000 residents in MILWAUKEE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 16 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Total PFOS and PFOA, Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Bromate, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromoacetic acid, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Nitrate, Trichloroacetic acid, Nitrate and nitrite. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
Quick actions for MILWAUKEE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Total PFOS and PFOA significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal PFOS and PFOA detected at 3.4 ppt, 486x above the EWG health guideline of 0.007 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 4.48 ppb, 75x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 9.13 ppb, 61x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for MILWAUKEE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 55/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total PFOS and PFOA PFAS |
3.4 ppt | 0.007 | — | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 486× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
4.48 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 75× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
9.13 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 61× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.33 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 56× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.41 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Bromate Disinfection byproduct |
1.72 ppb | 0.1 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.1 | — | 17× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
1.49 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 15× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.213 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 11× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
3.01 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.5× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.675 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.5× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.12 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.6× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.12 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.0× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
1.03 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 3.4× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
0.355 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.5× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.243 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.4× over |
| Nitrate and nitrite Inorganic |
0.317 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 2.3× over |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.386 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
59.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0195 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.17 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
19.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.638 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.275 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.757 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.119 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.795 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.597 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS service area
This water system serves 1 community in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MILWAUKEE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.