Madison, Wisconsin Water Outage Today
Live Madison water outage reports, Madison Water Utility’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Madison, Wisconsin in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Madison came in on September 22, 2026.
Who supplies water in Madison?
Drinking water in Madison, Wisconsin is supplied by Madison Water Utility, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Wisconsin are regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
To report no water or a main break, call Madison Water Utility at 608-266-4661.
Who runs the water in Madison: system profile
Federal records name Madison Water Utility as the public water system for Madison, with about 272,000 people on its mains.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Madison Water Utility (WI1130224) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 272,000 through 100,740 service connections |
| Source of the water | Groundwater (wells) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 21 active wells, 21 treatment points |
| State regulator | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 1 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 3.2 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
Where Madison's tap water comes from
Water in Madison comes out of the ground. Madison Water Utility runs 21 active wells that lift it to the surface for treatment and distribution.
What this means in an outage. Every well runs on its own pump motor. A regional power cut can take many small sources offline at once, and the utility has to decide which wells have generators and which zones to prioritize. Ask Madison Water Utility whether the wells that feed your neighborhood have standby power.
Why the water goes out in Madison
These are the causes that match the record for Madison, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Madison sees about 149 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 66 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on January 31, 2019. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 16 days, ending January 7, 2018. Frozen service lines and meters cause single-address outages, while ground frost and thaw cycles crack older mains and produce the street-wide breaks.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Dane County number 433 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Flooding and heavy rain. NOAA logged 36 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Dane County from 2015 through 2026, and 6 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. High water can wash out the ground under buried pipe, flood pump stations and push treatment plants past their limits, which is why boil notices so often follow a flood.
- Construction and third-party damage. A backhoe or boring crew that hits a main is among the most common reasons a single block goes dry without warning. Utilities handle those the same way as any break: isolate, repair, flush.
- One-address problems. A closed valve, a meter swap or a failed regulator can leave a single house dry. Compare notes with a neighbor first; if they have water too, start with your own plumbing.
How weather strains the Madison water system
Main break season in Madison runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 148.7 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 65.9 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 54.5 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0.4 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0.1 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 5.5 |
| Average annual precipitation | 38.5 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (50.5 in) |
| Driest year | 2021 (25.8 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | January 31, 2019 |
| Hottest day in the record | August 23, 2023 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 30.4 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 50.5 inches; the driest was 2021 with 25.8. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Madison boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists 1 health-based violation for Madison Water Utility since 2015. It also lists 1 monitoring or reporting entry that is about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- October 2024: A treatment technique violation It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Lead and copper | 1 | 0 |
| Public notice and annual reports | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
When Madison loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Madison Water Utility asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) supervises the process.
Lead, older pipes and water quality in Madison
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Madison Water Utility is 1.8 ppb (2023). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is well under it.
Highest result on file: 3.2 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
37.8% of occupied homes in Madison were built before 1970, and lead service lines and solder stayed legal until the federal ban in 1986. After any outage that disturbs the pipes, run the cold tap 30 seconds to 2 minutes before drinking, and ask Madison Water Utility about its lead service line inventory.
Restoration times for water outages in Madison
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Madison take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more. With 272,000 people on the system, a break on a main that feeds a whole district can leave thousands of homes dry at once, and crews may close valves several blocks away to isolate it.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | The posted window, though crews often finish ahead of it |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | One to three days, longer if parts must be ordered |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | Until power returns and tanks recover, often within a day |
| Boil water notice after service returns | Until two clean rounds of samples, usually 1 to 2 days |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Madison Water Utility will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
Emergency water storage for Madison households
The average household in Madison has about 2.2 people, so FEMA's minimum of one gallon per person per day comes to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 30 gallons for two weeks.
- 28.7% of homes are in buildings with 20 or more units. Upper floors lose pressure first, and rooftop tanks and booster pumps depend on building power.
- 54% of households rent. Tell your landlord or property manager about a leak or outage right away, since the shutoff valve may be theirs.
- A standard water heater is a ready-made 40-gallon reserve. Shut off its power or gas, open a hot tap somewhere in the house, and draw from the drain valve.
- If a planned shutoff or storm is coming, fill the tub and some buckets for flushing toilets and washing; keep drinking water in clean sealed containers.
How Madison compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | Madison Water Utility | 272,000 | Ground | 1 | 3.2 |
| Janesville, WI | Janesville Water Utility | 64,415 | Ground | 0 | 10 |
| Rockford, IL | Rockford | 147,051 | Ground | 0 | 14 |
| Waukesha, WI | Waukesha Water Utility | 70,718 | Bought (surface) | 207 | 2.3 |
| Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Waterworks | 626,000 | Surface | 0 | 7.2 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Janesville, WI · Rockford, IL · Waukesha, WI · Milwaukee, WI
Staying informed about water service in Madison
Sign up for alerts from Madison Water Utility and check its website or social accounts when the water goes off. If a boil advisory is issued, the water outage guide covers how to treat water and when it is safe again.
Madison water outage questions
Who do I call about no water in Madison?
Madison Water Utility at 608-266-4661, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Where does Madison get its water?
Groundwater supplies Madison, according to EPA records for Madison Water Utility.
Is the water in Madison safe?
EPA lists 1 health-based violation for Madison Water Utility since 2015, most recently a treatment technique violation in October 2024, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 1.8 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. Follow any boil water notice until the utility says it is over.
What time of year are Madison water main breaks most common?
Breaks in Madison pile up in the cold, with about 149 freezing days a year and the worst stretch from December to February. The days right after a deep freeze, when the soil thaws and shifts, are usually the busiest.
What causes low water pressure in Madison?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell Madison Water Utility; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Madison?
Plan on one to two days after pressure is back. Madison Water Utility samples the water, waits for clean lab results and then lifts the notice, with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) overseeing the steps.
How much drinking water should I keep at home in Madison?
Plan on one gallon per person per day for at least three days. The average Madison household has about 2.2 people, which works out to roughly 7 gallons for three days and 30 for two weeks.
Should I worry about lead in Madison water?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 37.8% of occupied homes in Madison predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. Madison Water Utility can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
Is there a water outage map for Madison?
There is no pipe-level map on this site. The report counter above reflects what residents of Madison have sent in over the last day, and Madison Water Utility has the official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil notices.
Recent water reports in Madison
- Water reports in Madison, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- September 22, 2026
- Water reports across Wisconsin, last 24h
- 0
- City population
- 269,840
Other outage types in Madison
Water Service Outages in cities near Madison
- Janesville, WI 33 mi · Janesville Water Utility
- Rockford, IL 58 mi · Rockford Water Division
- Waukesha, WI 59 mi · Waukesha Water Utility
- Milwaukee, WI 75 mi · Milwaukee Water Works
- Oshkosh, WI 79 mi · Oshkosh Water Utility
- Racine, WI 85 mi · Racine Water Utility
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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