Dane County · Madison metro
Plumbing help in Madison, WI
Frozen PipesLead Lines
Madison drinks very hard water from a deep sandstone aquifer, and it was one of the first US cities to get rid of its lead service lines. Scale and cold winters, not lead, drive most plumbing calls today.
- Median home built
- 1983
- Built before 1980
- 48%
- Owner-occupied
- 44%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Long, hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- Local
Common repairs in Madison homes
- 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.
- Frozen Pipe Repair
Long Wisconsin winters freeze pipes in exterior walls and unheated spaces.
Protecting pipes through a Madison winter
Long, hard freezes · median home built 1983
Emergency plumbing in Madison
Call (833) 878-1592Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Madison homes, based on local conditions.
Where Madison's water comes from
Madison's water comes from a deep sandstone aquifer through 22 wells and contains about 18 to 20 grains of hardness per gallon. [1]
Madison Water Utility replaced all known lead service lines in the city, more than 8,000, with copper by 2012. [2]
Polybutylene-era homes in Madison
The median home in Madison was built in 1983, and 48% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper or CPVC supply, plastic drains, and in some homes gray polybutylene supply pipe.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Plumbing services for Madison homes
Madison plumbing questions
How hard is Madison water?
Very hard: about 18 to 20 grains per gallon from the deep sandstone aquifer.
Does Madison still have lead service lines?
The utility replaced all known lead service lines, more than 8,000, by 2012. Very old interior plumbing and fixtures can still contain lead.
Should I install a water softener in Madison?
Many homeowners do. Size it for about 20 grains per gallon. See water softener installation.
Who can do plumbing work in Madison?
Plumbers licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, working under the state plumbing code.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of Madison Water Utility, FAQs · checked 2026-10-01
- City of Madison Water Utility, Lead & Copper in Water · checked 2026-10-01