Milwaukee, WI

High Risk (82/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.

Environmental data for Milwaukee in Wisconsin · Population: 927,656

TRI sites such as Wpc Technologies; Ppg Industries Inc-Oak Creek; Oak Creek Site; SDWIS systems such as MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS; WEST ALLIS WATERWORKS; WAUWATOSA WATERWORKS; NPL sites such as Fadrowski Drum Disposal; Moss-American Co., Inc. (Kerr-McGee Oil Co.) anchor Milwaukee, WI's EPA extract. Derived burden score 82/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Milwaukee include OAK CREEK WATERWORKS; SHOREWOOD WATERWORKS; EMERALD WOODS CONDOS, while Wpc Technologies leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 43 / peak 147 in 2024.

Burden score 82/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Milwaukee -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Milwaukee, WI: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+20.4%

103 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+20.3%

1.7 million lb → 2.1 million lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 3 facilities filed for the first time and 6 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Milwaukee, WI's total reported releases rose from 1.7 million lb in 2022 to 2.0 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Milwaukee, WI's off-site transfers rose from 954.4 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.5 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Milwaukee, WI's air releases fell from 710.7 thousand lb in 2022 to 502.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Milwaukee, WI's chemicals reported rose from 84 in 2022 to 95 in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
927,656
TRI Facilities
50
Water Systems
37
Superfund Sites
2
Total Releases
9.8M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 251 (69%) 109 6 147
2023 166 (45%) 180 15 250
2022 192 (53%) 167 6 143
2021 162 (44%) 196 7 129
2020 204 (56%) 157 4 169
2024 Good Air Quality: 69% of days
Unhealthy days: 6
Median AQI: 43

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Wisconsin, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (37)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS 626,000 0
WEST ALLIS WATERWORKS 63,240 0
WAUWATOSA WATERWORKS 49,064 0
NORTH SHORE WATER COMMISSION 35,598 0
OAK CREEK WATERWORKS 32,104 5
FRANKLIN WATER UTILITY 22,500 0
SOUTH MILWAUKEE WATERWORKS 21,340 0
CUDAHY WATERWORKS 18,659 0
GREENDALE WATERWORKS 14,393 0
WHITEFISH BAY WATERWORKS 14,272 0
SHOREWOOD WATERWORKS 13,535 1
GLENDALE WATERWORKS 12,883 0
BROWN DEER WATERWORKS 12,741 0
FOX POINT WATERWORKS 6,808 0
ROBERT WILLIAM PARK WATER ASSOCIATION INC 1,065 0
PIONEER ESTATES OF DELAVAN 400 0
BEECHWOOD FARMS ESTATES 300 0
BROWNS LAKE MOBILE HOME CT 225 0
LAKEWOOD VILLAGE 160 0
EMERALD WOODS CONDOS 150 2
OAKTON BEACH 144 0
LAUREL LAKES 608 80 0
GRAND AVE APARTMENTS 80 1
LINDEN LANE APTS 141 75 0
ALLEN ESTATES LLC 75 0
MISSION LAKES II 68 0
LAKEVIEW HEIGHTS MOBILE HOME PARK 66 0
MEADOWS CONDOMINIUMS ASSOC LTD 50 0
LAUREL LAKES 508 50 0
WILLIAMSBURG 206 48 1
PARKVIEW APARTMENTS 45 8
HEIDEL RD APTS 139 40 3
HEIDEL RD APTS 152 40 0
LINCOLN CREST APARTMENTS 32 0
WILLIAMSBURG 220 32 0
ROSEMORE VILLAGE 32 0
RIVER GARDEN APTS 25 2

TRI Facilities (50)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Wpc Technologies 2.4M lbs
2 Ppg Industries Inc-Oak Creek 2.2M lbs
3 Oak Creek Site 2.0M lbs
4 Henkel US Operations Corp 469.7K lbs
5 Materion Advanced Chemicals 270.6K lbs
6 Seidel Tanning Corp 255.2K lbs
7 Ge Healthcare 244.1K lbs
8 Maynard Steel Casting Co 216.6K lbs
9 Sonoco Metal Packaging LLC 143.1K lbs
10 Aldrich Chemical Co LLC Teutonia 126.7K lbs
11 Ati Ladish Llc. 106.5K lbs
12 Mid-America Steel Drum Co. in C 100.7K lbs
13 Advanced Plating Technologies 100.2K lbs
14 Chr Hansen Inc 98.6K lbs
15 Chrometech of Wisconsin 91.9K lbs
16 Hentzen Coatings,inc 81.2K lbs
17 Brady Worldwide Inc Florist Avenue 75.7K lbs
18 D R Diedrich & Co Ltd 74.1K lbs
19 Master Lock Co 68.2K lbs
20 Thermo Fisher Scientific Milwaukee LLC 63.1K lbs
21 Bay View Industries 50.4K lbs
22 Thiele Tanning 44.6K lbs
23 Highline Warren - Milwaukee 41.1K lbs
24 Ritus Corp 38.6K lbs
25 Milwaukee Precision Casting 35.5K lbs
26 Badger Alloys 35.5K lbs
27 Acme Galvanizing Inc 31.7K lbs
28 Snap-On 31.4K lbs
29 Milwaukee Composites Inc 31.3K lbs
30 Quad/graphics Inc 29.8K lbs
31 Ritus Corp 26.1K lbs
32 Vesta Intermediate Funding Inc 17.1K lbs
33 Grede Holdings LLC 16.6K lbs
34 Quad Packaging Inc 14.9K lbs
35 Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp 13.9K lbs
36 Vulcan Global Manufacturing Solutions Inc 12.8K lbs
37 Kubin-Nicholson Corp 12.2K lbs
38 Milport Enterprises Inc 10.8K lbs
39 Clcm-St Francis (fomerly Masd & Kitzinger) 10.5K lbs
40 Badger Meter Inc 10.2K lbs
41 Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend LLC Milwaukee Terminal 9.3K lbs
42 Unit Drop Forge Co. Inc. 8.6K lbs
43 Elite Finishing LLC 6.7K lbs
44 Solenis LLC 6.7K lbs
45 Motor Castings Co 6.6K lbs
46 Api Heat Transfer 6.5K lbs
47 Blast Cleaning Technologies 5.6K lbs
48 Molson Coors USA Llc-Milwaukee Brewery 5.5K lbs
49 Milwaukee Forge LLC 3.5K lbs
50 Kingchem Laboratories Inc. 3.2K lbs

Superfund Sites (2)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Fadrowski Drum Disposal Deleted NPL Site 31.08
Moss-American Co., Inc. (Kerr-McGee Oil Co.) NPL Site 32.14

Cities in Milwaukee (16)

Milwaukee
84 facilities · 20 water
Oak Creek
15 facilities · 4 water
Franklin
9 facilities · 2 water
Cudahy
6 facilities · 1 water
South Milwaukee
4 facilities · 1 water
West Allis
3 facilities · 2 water
Glendale
2 facilities · 1 water
Wauwatosa
2 facilities · 1 water
Saint Francis
2 facilities · 0 water
Brown Deer
1 facilities · 1 water
West Milwaukee
1 facilities · 0 water
Bayside
0 facilities · 1 water
Fox Point
0 facilities · 1 water
Greendale
0 facilities · 1 water
Hales Corners
0 facilities · 1 water
Shorewood
0 facilities · 1 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Milwaukee, WI has an environmental risk score of 82/100 (High Risk), based on 50 TRI facilities, 2 Superfund sites, and 37 water systems on record. 8 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Milwaukee?
Yes, Milwaukee, WI has 2 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI has 50 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 9.8M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Milwaukee?
In 2024, Milwaukee, WI recorded a median AQI of 43 and a peak AQI of 147. 69% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Milwaukee?
Milwaukee, WI has 37 EPA-regulated water systems. 8 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Milwaukee?
Environmental compliance in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Wisconsin state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro