Emergency Plumbing in Madison, WI

Who to call in Madison

Leaks on the street side of the water meter, a broken main or no water on the whole street are for the water utility: in Madison that is City of Madison Water Utility. Check its website or your water bill for its emergency line.

Leaks, backups and failures on your side of the meter, inside the house or in your sewer lateral, are a plumber's job. Call us and we connect you with an independent, licensed plumbing company that handles emergency calls in Madison; when they can arrive depends on that company and the time of day.

Reporting a water emergency in Madison

• Madison Water Utility lists its emergency contacts on its main page: report a main break or emergency at 608-266-4661, after-hours emergencies at 608-266-4665, and the office at 608-266-4651, located at 119 East Olin Ave. Office hours are 7:30am to 4:00pm, closed on official City holidays. [3]
• Madison Water Utility asks plumbers and property owners to contact it at (608) 266-4661 before operating the curb stop, so the utility can mark the box and make sure the stop works correctly. Replacing a water service requires an application signed by a master plumber and the property owner. [4]
• Madison Water Utility's contact page lists separate lines for urgent problems: 608-266-4661 to report a main break or emergency, and 608-266-4665 as the after-hours emergency number. The general office line is 608-266-4651, staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and closed on official City holidays. [5]
• The City of Madison advises residents to locate the master shut-off valve that turns off water to the entire home, usually in the basement, and to make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. If a pipe bursts and the water cannot be shut off, residents should immediately call Madison Water Utility's emergency hotline at 608-266-4661. [6]

Other common plumbing calls in Madison

• Water Softener Installation: at 18 to 20 grains per gallon, softening protects heaters, fixtures and appliances.
• Water Heater Repair: scale builds quickly in tank heaters with water this hard.

Madison facts behind this page

• Madison's water comes from a deep sandstone aquifer through 22 wells and contains about 18 to 20 grains of hardness per gallon. [1]
• The median home in Madison was built in 1983. [2]
• About 48% of Madison's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [2]
• Madison Water Utility lists its emergency contacts on its main page: report a main break or emergency at 608-266-4661, after-hours emergencies at 608-266-4665, and the office at 608-266-4651, located at 119 East Olin Ave. Office hours are 7:30am to 4:00pm, closed on official City holidays. [3]
• Madison Water Utility asks plumbers and property owners to contact it at (608) 266-4661 before operating the curb stop, so the utility can mark the box and make sure the stop works correctly. Replacing a water service requires an application signed by a master plumber and the property owner. [4]
• Madison Water Utility's contact page lists separate lines for urgent problems: 608-266-4661 to report a main break or emergency, and 608-266-4665 as the after-hours emergency number. The general office line is 608-266-4651, staffed from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and closed on official City holidays. [5]
• The City of Madison advises residents to locate the master shut-off valve that turns off water to the entire home, usually in the basement, and to make sure everyone in the household knows where it is. If a pipe bursts and the water cannot be shut off, residents should immediately call Madison Water Utility's emergency hotline at 608-266-4661. [6]