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Total Water licensed to operate at 5002 World Dairy Drive in Madison

Total Water licensed to operate at 5002 World Dairy Drive in Madison

Built World Madison, WI local

Public health license on record for water treatment company's Madison address

Yesterday: Total Water license appears on Madison health list

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

A Madison water treatment company has cleared the county's licensing step for an address on World Dairy Drive. Public Health Madison & Dane County has a license on record for Total Water at 5002 World Dairy Drive as of September 1, 2026.

Total Water Treatment Systems, founded in 1943, sells Culligan softeners and industrial high-purity water systems. The license clears the company to operate there; it does not confirm the doors are open.

Why it matters

If the location opens, Madison-area homes and businesses gain another nearby option for water treatment and softener service.

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Key Indicators

1
License on record
Public Health Madison & Dane County license for Total Water at 5002 World Dairy Drive, listed September 1, 2026.
1943
Company founding year
Total Water has operated in Madison since 1943.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

1943 September 2026

3 events Latest: Yesterday
  1. Total Water license appears on Madison health list

    Latest Licensing

    License clears the company to operate; opening not confirmed.

  2. Total Water becomes employee-owned

    Ownership

    All company stock is sold to an employee stock ownership plan.

  3. Total Water founded

    Founding

    Company starts as an authorized Culligan water treatment dealer.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1936-1960

Culligan builds its dealer network (1936-1960)

Culligan, founded in 1936, sold automatic water softeners through independently owned local dealerships. Total Water became one of those dealers in 1943.

Then

Culligan grew a network of dealers across North America.

Now

The local-dealer model remains common in water treatment sales and service.

Why this matters now

This Madison license is another step in that same dealer network, not a company-owned chain store.

September 2003

Total Water's employee ownership transition (2003)

On September 1, 2003, 100% of Total Water's stock was sold to an employee stock ownership plan. The company's workers became its owners.

Then

The company kept its name, management, and Madison headquarters.

Now

Total Water has continued operating as an employee-owned local firm.

Why this matters now

It identifies who is behind the new license: the company's employee-owners, not an outside chain.

Sources

(4)