Skip to main content
City of Madison
  • Accounts
    • All Accounts
    • My Account
    • ePayments
    • Water Customer Care
    • Employment
    • Licenses & Permits
  • Services
  • Jobs
  • Agencies
    • All Agencies
    • Assessor's Office
    • Attorney's Office
    • Building Inspection
    • Civil Rights
    • Clerk's Office
    • Common Council
    • Community Development
    • Development Services Center
    • Economic Development
    • Employee Assistance Program
    • Engineering
    • Finance
    • Fire
    • Fleet Service
    • Golf
    • Goodman Pool
    • Housing Authority
    • Human Resources
    • Information Technology
    • Madison City Channel
    • Madison Public Library
    • Madison Senior Center
    • Mayor's Office
    • Metro Transit
    • Monona Terrace
    • Municipal Court
    • Office of Business Resources
    • Office of Real Estate Services
    • Olbrich Botanical Gardens
    • Parking Utility
    • Parks
    • Planning
    • Planning, Community & Economic Development
    • Police
    • Public Health Madison & Dane County
    • Public Works
    • Streets & Recycling
    • Traffic Engineering
    • Transportation
    • Treasurer's Office
    • Warner Park Community Recreation Center
    • Water Utility
  • Data
  • Contact
    • Mayor
    • City Council
    • City Staff & Agencies
Search form

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

  • City Services
  • Public Health
  • Get Alerts
  • Español
  • Hmoob
Madison Water Utility

Water Utility

Joseph Grande, Interim General Manager

  • Founded in 1882

  • Home
  • Billing & Rates
  • Plumbers & Contractors
  • Sustainability
  • Water Quality
  • Projects
  • Media
  • Education & Outreach
  • En Español
  • About
  1. City of Madison
  2. Water Utility
  3. Water Quality
  4. Water Main Flushing Program

Water Main Flushing Program

Water main flushing is one of the most important things we do. Find out how our program puts Madison on the forefront of water safety and quality.

The 2021 Water Main Flushing Program began on Monday, April 5.

This week's schedule

All flushing the week of 4/19/21 is daytime (6 am to 4 pm) Monday-Friday.

Flushing Schedule Map

East Madison

  • Stoughton Rd to Monona Dr/Atwood Ave between between Buckeye Rd and Tompkins Dr
  • West of N Sherman Ave and south of Northport Dr

West Madison

  • Prairie Rd to Verona Rd south of Raymond Rd

Water sprays out of a hydrant with a flushing elbow attached to it.

What is Water Main (Hydrant) Flushing?

Our water comes from an underground aquifer and contains naturally-occurring minerals like iron and manganese. These minerals can build up over time as sediment in our water mains. To keep our mains clean, crews systematically open and close valves and hydrants to move water at high speed through sections of water main. This clears out naturally-occurring mineral sediment that can build up in the water system and cause discolored water and other problems.

How could this affect my water?

Low pressure

When flushing crews are working in your area, you may have a temporary drop in water pressure or a brief water outage. Water outages are rare, and we try to notify in advance if we expect them. If you have a water outage and weren’t notified, please call us at (608) 266-4661.

Discolored (yellow, brown, or reddish) water

Water main flushing stirs up mineral sediment that can temporarily cause discolored water in that area.
If you have discolored water:

  1. Go to a faucet in the lowest level of your home or business, like a basement utility sink or first-floor bathtub.
  2. Remove the screen or aerator from the faucet (if applicable) and temporarily bypass whole home water softeners or filters if you have them.
  3. Run the cold water only at full force for a few minutes until the water clears. Once water is clear, replace the faucet screen/ aerator and put any bypassed filters or softeners back in service (if applicable).
  4. If your water doesn’t clear after a few minutes, call our Water Quality Section at (608) 266-4654.
  5. If you have lower pressure than usual at a faucet, remove the screen or aerator to check if it's clogged. If it's clogged and doesn't rinse easily, soak it in vinegar for at least 15 minutes and scrub it with an old toothbrush.

We also suggest waiting until evening to do laundry or run your dishwasher if we're flushing in your neighborhood—and make sure your water is clear first. Discolored water can stain clothes and porcelain.

How will I know when you’ll be in my neighborhood?

  • We update this page every week.
  • You can join our Email list for weekly water main flushing updates.
  • Watch for our blue water main flushing signs in your neighborhood!
    A blue sign in a terrace reads: "Water main flushing in progress in this area. 261-9178 madisonwater.org"

We ask for your patience and understanding as we work to keep your water clean and safe.

Water Quality

  • Water Quality at My Address
  • Annual Drinking Water Quality Report
  • Water Main Flushing Program
  • Water Quality Testing
  • Private Wells
    • FAQs – Attached Properties, Municipal Water Requirements
    • FAQs – Attached Properties, Private Well Requirements
  • Cross-Connection Control Program
  • Wellhead Protection Program
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Stagnant Water Dangers Remain
  • Discolored Water
  • Lead Service Replacement Program
    • Lead in water: What you should know
    • Information for Utilities on Lead Service Replacement
  • PFAS / Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
    • PFAS at Well 15
  • Road salt and Madison's drinking water
  • Water Quality Technical Advisory Committee
  • Well 8
    • Groundwater Study Update

Water Main Flushing

  • Phone: (608) 261-9128, Flushing Info Hotline: (608) 261-9178
  • Email: water@madisonwater.org
  • eNews: Sign up for Water Main Flushing Updates

Water Utility

Water Utility Administrative Office
119 East Olin Avenue
Madison, WI 53713
  • Report Main Break/Emergency: (608) 266-4661
  • Report Emergency After Hours: (608) 266-4665
  • Office: (608) 266-4651
  • Fax: (608) 266-4426
  • Office Hours: 7:30am - 4:00pm, M-F
  • Drinking Water Concerns/Questions
  • Email Us
  • WI Relay Service

Customer Care

  • Pay your bill
  • Start or stop service
  • View water use
  • Set up usage alert
  • Apply for toilet rebate

Social Media

  • Find us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Watch us on YouTube
  • Read "Inside MWU"

Stay Informed

  • Blackhawk Water Tower Email List
  • Inside MWU Email List
  • Water Main Flushing
  • Water Utility News & Alerts
  • Well 31

All Social Media »

City of Madison, Wisconsin logo, copyright City of Madison

Our Madison – Inclusive, Innovative, & Thriving

Copyright © 1995 - 2021 City of Madison, WI
  • Contact Webmaster
  • Accessibility
  • Web Policies
2019 Winner of the Digital Cities Survey by the Center for Digital Government