Water Utility

The Village’s water treatment system consists of five (5) wells and pumping stations. In addition, it consists of one (1) underground storage facility with a capacity of 330,000 gallons and two (2) elevated towers with a capacity of 500,000 gallons each. The system’s pumping capacity is 5.1 million gallons per day (MGD), with an average daily consumption of 0.698 MGD.

Of the five (5) wells, two (2) are deep wells producing a natural detection of radium. The Utility blends the shallow wells with the deep wells to reduce the amount of radium in the water. The deep wells were drilled in 1966 and 1981. The shallow wells were drilled in 2001 and in 2014.

Currently, the Water Utility maintains and services 2,959 meters along with its customers.

The Water Utility also provides the service and maintenance for 750 fire hydrants, 1,600 valves, 2,229 services, and a water distribution system consisting of approximately 47.0 miles of mains, ranging from 4″ to 18″ in diameter.

Cross Connections

Residential Cross Connections

Cross Connection Inspections

Cross Connection inspections are required by the Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) to be completed every 10 years. Cross connections are prohibited on all municipal, commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. When an inspection is due, you will receive a blue notice on your front door. A representative from the Utilities Department will come out and complete an inspection and meter change on your property. After the inspection is complete, you will receive a copy of the inspection survey with a list with a list of any violations. Attached to the survey form is a list of devices that should be installed to bring the building up to code.
 
What is a Cross Connection? A cross connection is a direct or potential connection between any part of the public water supply system and a source of contamination or pollution. An example of a cross connection would be a garden hose submerged in a source of contamination such as a swimming pool, car radiator, or other liquid. Other common cross-connections include dishwashers, toilets, pressure washers, boilers, pools, and lawn sprinkler systems.
Why is cross connection an issue? Cross connection has the potential of contaminating the water at your property. If you lose water pressure and there is a connection with unclean water, that unclean water can be siphoned into the building’s water system. This in known as “backflow”.
 
How can backflow occur? The two typical ways backflow can occur are “backpressure” and “back-siphonage”. Backpressure is created when a source of pressure, such as a boiler or a pressure washer, creates pressures higher than that supplied by the municipal water system. This can cause potentially contaminated water to be pushed into your plumbing system and the city supply through an unprotected cross connection. Back-siphonage may occur when there is a loss of pressure in the water system during a fire emergency, a water main break, or a system repair. This can create a siphon in the plumbing system which can draw a liquid, such as pesticides, out of a container through an attached or submerged hose.
 
Methods in preventing backflows. A simple an inexpensive method of preventing backflow with a garden hose is the use of a device known as a vacuum breaker. These devices can be screwed onto your outside faucet(s). These devices will prevent contaminants from being siphoned back into your plumbing and the public water system. Another way to stop backflow is by using an air gap. An air gap can be created by arranging your hose so that the end is at least six inches above the top rim of the container it is being used to fill. This air gap will prevent the contaminant from being siphoned into the water supply. The Village of Mukwonago Water Utility is asking all residential customers to complete the below survey. Please return the survey to the Village Clerk’s Office, 440 River Crest Court, PO Box 206, Mukwonago, WI 53149.
 
Water Conservation

Leak Detection
Most leaks in a home are related to the toilet. Make sure toilets are in proper working order. If you have to jiggle the handle to get the water to stop, this is a sure sign that repairs need to be made.

Make sure the water level in the toilet reservoir tank is at the fill line. Adjust the water level accordingly if the water is over the fill line.

A small leak (1/32 of an inch) can waste 170 gallons in 24 hours. This can add up quickly. Make sure to fix leaks, as soon as possible, if you are unable to repair or diagnose them, you may want to call a licensed plumber.

Read water meter in your basement before going to bed or work, then read it again when you get up or get home. As long as you know nobody used water, the water softner hasn’t cycled, etc., the meter dials won’t move.

Conservation Tips
For simple steps that can be taken to reduce water consumption within your household please visit www.epa.gov/watersense. It is a good informational tool you as a homeowner can use to keep your water consumption down and in return save you money.

Water Sprinkling Ordinance
Effective between May 1st and September 15th of every year during this period the following requirements will be in effect: No person shall use water to sprinkle a lawn except on those days as permitted in the subsection. Sprinkling shall be permitted on even-numbered calendar days at locations with even-numbered addresses and on odd-numbered calendar days at locations with odd-numbered addresses. These restrictions shall apply to all residence and to all businesses and institutions having lawns, gardens, trees or shrubs, and shall be followed at all park and public buildings owned by the Village. These restrictions shall not apply to any person engaged in the business of growing or selling plants of any kind.

Any person violating any provision of this division shall be fined not less than $25.00 nor more than $200.00 for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.

*Note: There are no exceptions for new or installing lawns. It is recommended that you properly plan to install your lawn before May l5th or after September 15th•

Hydrant Flushing

April 15th through May 3rd 2024.

The Village of Mukwonago Water Utility flushes water mains out of the fire hydrants annually in the spring of each year. The purpose of the flushing is to remove most of the natural minerals which are harmless but sometimes discolor the water and cause objectionable odors. Flushing will only take place Monday thru Friday. The Water Department hopes the flushing will not cause any inconvenience for its customers and asks cooperation and understanding.

Water Meters

Throughout every year the Village of Mukwonago Water Department is involve in a water meter change out program. It is required by the Public Service Commission (PSC) that the water meter be changed every certain number of years depending of the size of the water meter you have in your establishment. At this time the Water Department will also check for cross-connections, which are prohibited. These services are free of charge. For single family homes, condos, and small businesses it is required that we change the meter every 10 years. For all other meters it will be required to be changed every 4 years or less. When your meter is due to be changed you will receive a blue notice on your door advising you to call the Water Department to set up a date and time that is convenient for you the homeowner. The Water Department asks that you clear a space around the water meter and that both valves before and after the meter are operable. The valves are the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain. If they are broke, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to contact a plumber to fix. With valves that are operable, adequate space and a good shut off the entire job should take no more than 20 minutes