Waukesha, Wisconsin Water Outage Today
Live Waukesha water outage reports, Waukesha Water Utility’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Waukesha, Wisconsin in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Waukesha came in on September 17, 2026.
Who supplies water in Waukesha?
Drinking water in Waukesha, Wisconsin is supplied by Waukesha 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).
Who runs the water in Waukesha: system profile
Federal records name Waukesha Water Utility as the public water system for Waukesha, with about 70,718 people on its mains.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Waukesha Water Utility (WI2680238) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 70,718 through 26,192 service connections |
| Source of the water | Purchased surface water |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 10 active wells |
| Connections to other systems | 1 |
| State regulator | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 207 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 2.3 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
What feeds the taps in Waukesha
Waukesha does not collect its own raw water. Waukesha Water Utility buys surface water from Milwaukee Waterworks and distributes it through its own mains.
Why this matters when the water stops. Local crews can fix local mains, but not a failure at Milwaukee Waterworks. When that supplier cuts flow, Waukesha has only its tanks to fall back on, so check both its notices and those from Waukesha Water Utility.
What causes water outages and low pressure in Waukesha
These are the causes that match the record for Waukesha, listed roughly in order of how much they matter here.
- Freezing weather. Waukesha sees about 143 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 58 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 19 days, ending March 2, 2015. 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 Waukesha County number 226 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on We Energies 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 22 flood, flash flood and heavy rain reports in Waukesha County from 2015 through 2026, and 5 days a year bring an inch of rain or more. Flooding is hard on water systems in three ways: it erodes soil around pipe crossings, drowns pumps and electrical equipment, and can let contaminated runoff into the mains, which triggers precautionary boil notices.
- Digging and utility work. Street projects, fiber installation and excavation near buried pipe regularly cut mains in Waukesha with no warning, usually on a day with perfectly ordinary weather.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
How weather strains the Waukesha water system
Main break season in Waukesha 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 | 143.4 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 57.7 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 50.7 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0.2 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 4.7 |
| Average annual precipitation | 37.7 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (48.2 in) |
| Driest year | 2021 (26 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 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 48.2 inches; the driest was 2021 with 26. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
A note on the numbers: they are modeled for the city center and averaged over eleven years, so they show how often Waukesha sees each kind of weather, not what any one thermometer read on a given day.
Is Waukesha water safe? Boil notices and EPA record
EPA lists 207 health-based violations for Waukesha Water Utility since 2015, which is more than most systems of its size. It also lists 28 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- October 2023: A contaminant above the legal limit It is marked resolved.
- October 2023: A contaminant above the legal limit It is marked resolved.
- July 2023: A contaminant above the legal limit It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical and radiological contaminants | 184 | 0 |
| Other | 23 | 0 |
| Public notice and annual reports | 0 | 28 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
When Waukesha loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Waukesha 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.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Waukesha
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Waukesha Water Utility is 0.9 ppb (2024). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 2.3 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 31.7% of occupied homes in Waukesha predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Waukesha Water Utility whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
When will the water come back on in Waukesha?
Most repairs of an ordinary main break in Waukesha take half a day once the crew is on site. Bigger mains, deep bury and busy roads stretch that to a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | Time window posted ahead; water often returns early |
| Ordinary main break | About 4 to 8 hours after the crew is on site |
| Large or deep main | 1 to 3 days |
| 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 | Depends on thaw; a plumber is usually needed |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Ask Waukesha Water Utility for a restoration estimate when you report the outage; for large breaks it is normally posted and updated as the repair progresses.
How much water to keep on hand in Waukesha
Census figures put the typical Waukesha household at about 2.3 people. At one gallon per person per day that is 7 gallons for three days or 33 gallons for a two-week supply.
- 18.8% 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.
- 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.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
How Waukesha compares with nearby water systems
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waukesha, WI | Waukesha Water Utility | 70,718 | Bought (surface) | 207 | 2.3 |
| Milwaukee, WI | Milwaukee Waterworks | 626,000 | Surface | 0 | 7.2 |
| Racine, WI | Racine Waterworks | 105,100 | Surface | 1 | 7.3 |
| Kenosha, WI | Kenosha Water Utility | 99,218 | Surface | 0 | 8.9 |
| Janesville, WI | Janesville Water Utility | 64,415 | Ground | 0 | 10 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Waukesha boil water notices and main breaks
Waukesha Water Utility posts Waukesha boil water notices, main breaks and planned shutoffs on its own site and alerts. What a notice requires: water outage guide.
Waukesha water outage questions
Who do I call about no water in Waukesha?
Call the 24-hour line of Waukesha Water Utility. Call 911 only if flooding or a main break puts people or property in immediate danger.
What is the source of Waukesha tap water?
Per EPA, the water system for Waukesha (Waukesha Water Utility) is classed as purchased surface water. It buys from Milwaukee Waterworks.
Is Waukesha tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists 207 health-based violations for Waukesha Water Utility since 2015, most recently a contaminant above the legal limit in October 2023, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 0.9 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
What time of year are Waukesha water main breaks most common?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Waukesha, which averages about 143 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from December through February, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
Why is my water pressure low in Waukesha?
Check whether neighbors have the same problem. If they do, it is probably a main break, a pump problem or evening demand, and Waukesha Water Utility should hear about it. If not, the cause is likely inside your own plumbing.
When will a boil water notice be lifted in Waukesha?
Usually 24 to 48 hours after pressure is restored. The utility has to collect samples, wait for the lab to confirm there is no bacteria, and then announce the all-clear. Waukesha Water Utility posts notices and lifts them; the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) oversees the process.
How much water should a Waukesha household store?
Store at least three days of water, and two weeks if you can. With about 2.3 people in a typical Waukesha home, that is roughly 7 and 33 gallons.
Are there lead service lines in Waukesha?
Lead pipe was legal until 1986, and 31.7% of occupied homes in Waukesha predate 1970, so it is possible in older neighborhoods. Waukesha Water Utility can tell you what your service line is made of; a lead-certified filter is a sensible precaution if you are unsure.
How do I check for water outages near me in Waukesha?
This page shows resident reports from Waukesha for the last 24 hours. For a street-by-street picture, use the alerts and outage page of Waukesha Water Utility; many utilities also text boil notices.
Recent water reports in Waukesha
- Water reports in Waukesha, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- September 17, 2026
- Water reports across Wisconsin, last 24h
- 0
- City population
- 71,858
Other outage types in Waukesha
Water Service Outages in cities near Waukesha
- Milwaukee, WI 17 mi · Milwaukee Water Works
- Racine, WI 30 mi · Racine Water Utility
- Kenosha, WI 36 mi · Kenosha Water Utility
- Janesville, WI 46 mi · Janesville Water Utility
- Waukegan, IL 49 mi · City of Waukegan Water Utility
- Madison, WI 59 mi · Madison Water Utility
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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