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Public Works
Water Utility >
The ultimate source of our drinking water is Lake Michigan, a surface water source. As water flows through rivers and lakes and over surfaces, naturally occurring substances may be dissolved in the water. Water may also be affected by animals and/or human activities. Any substances that are added to water are contaminants. Surface water sources may be highly susceptible to contaminants. Contaminants that might be expected in untreated water include inorganic contaminants such as salts and metals; biological contaminants such as viruses, protozoa and bacteria; organic chemicals from industrial or petroleum use; pesticides and herbicides, and radioactive materials. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate the water poses a health risk .The West Allis Municipal Water Utility is totally committed to protecting the health of the public served by our system. The Utility routinely tests the water for coliform bacteria seventy times a month.
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population: immuno-compromised individuals such as those undergoing chemotherapy; persons who have undergone organ transplants; individuals with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders; some elderly persons and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. We encourage these people to seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers.
We welcome the opportunity to take any customer of the West Allis Municipal Water Utility on a tour of our facilities. For more information contact the Water Division at (414) 302-8830, the Water Commission at (414) 302-8888 or the US Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1(800) 426- 4791.
Common Contaminants
Lead and Copper
The Utility is required by the DNR and EPA to test drinking water in a number of homes for lead and copper content. Lead and copper enter the drinking water by corrosion of home plumbing. Of the thirty homes tested for lead, none had results above the action level of 15 ppb. Of the 30 homes tested for copper, none had test results above the action level of 1.3 ppm. Milwaukee Waterworks adds phosphate to the drinking water to help prevent lead and copper from eroding from home plumbing into the drinking water.
Infants and young children are typically more susceptible to lead in drinking water than the general population. It is possible that lead levels in your home may be higher than other homes in West Allis due to materials in your home's plumbing. If you are concerned about elevated lead levels in your home's water, we recommend flushing the tap by letting the water run for between 30 seconds and two minutes before using the water.
Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic protozoan that, when ingested, can result in diarrhea, fever and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Our water supplier has been testing both the raw water and the drinking water for cryptosporidium since 1993. The West Allis Water Utility and our supplier consider testing for cryptosporidium to be a priority and are committed to informing our consumers of any detections. The organism is found in many surface water sources (lakes, rivers, streams) and comes from human and animal wastes in the watershed. Cryptosporidium is eliminated by an effective treatment combination which includes ozonation, coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection.
A complete Water Quality Report is available on the Public Works Resources page
