Organization	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Organization Mueller Water Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, operates in three business segments: Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies. Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including butterfly, iron gate, tapping, check, knife, plug and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants. Anvil manufactures and sources a broad range of products, including a variety of fittings, couplings, hangers and related products. Mueller Technologies offers metering systems, leak detection, pipe condition assessment and other related products and services. The “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mueller Water Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries. With regard to the Company’s segments, “we,” “us” or “our” may also refer to the segment being discussed. Mueller Co. owns a 49% ownership interest in an industrial valve joint venture. Due to substantive control features in the operating agreement, all of the joint venture’s assets, liabilities and results of operations are included in our consolidated financial statements. The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest is included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Noncontrolling interest is recorded at its carrying value, which approximates fair value. Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer to a particular year, we mean our fiscal year ended or ending September 30 in that particular calendar year. Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which require us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities for the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. In our opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair financial statement presentation have been made. Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at September 30, 2015 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. At March 31, 2016, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Most significantly, this update changes the accounting for “excess tax benefits” related to stock-based compensation awards by requiring such benefits be included in earnings, rather than recorded directly to additional paid-in capital. At December 31, 2015, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which requires that all deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, netted by tax jurisdiction, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. The prior period condensed consolidated balance sheet has not been reclassified. During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 Leases, which will require us to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases currently referred to as operating leases. This requirement is effective for 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The update allows for several different methods of application and adoption of the requirement. We are currently evaluating these methods, in what period we will adopt the requirement, and the impact of this requirement, which we do not believe will be material to our consolidated financial statements as a whole.

Organization

Mueller Water Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, operates in three business segments: Mueller Co., Anvil and Mueller Technologies. Mueller Co. manufactures valves for water and gas systems, including butterfly, iron gate, tapping, check, knife, plug and ball valves, as well as dry-barrel and wet-barrel fire hydrants. Anvil manufactures and sources a broad range of products, including a variety of fittings, couplings, hangers and related products. Mueller Technologies offers metering systems, leak detection, pipe condition assessment and other related products and services. The “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Mueller Water Products, Inc. and its subsidiaries. With regard to the Company’s segments, “we,” “us” or “our” may also refer to the segment being discussed.

Mueller Co. owns a 49% ownership interest in an industrial valve joint venture. Due to substantive control features in the operating agreement, all of the joint venture’s assets, liabilities and results of operations are included in our consolidated financial statements. The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest is included in selling, general and administrative expenses. Noncontrolling interest is recorded at its carrying value, which approximates fair value.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, whenever we refer to a particular year, we mean our fiscal year ended or ending September 30 in that particular calendar year.

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), which require us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, sales and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities for the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. In our opinion, all normal and recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair financial statement presentation have been made. Certain reclassifications have been made to previously reported amounts to conform to the current presentation. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at September 30, 2015 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

At March 31, 2016, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2016-09 Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. Most significantly, this update changes the accounting for “excess tax benefits” related to stock-based compensation awards by requiring such benefits be included in earnings, rather than recorded directly to additional paid-in capital.

At December 31, 2015, we adopted FASB Accounting Standards Update 2015-17 Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes, which requires that all deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities, netted by tax jurisdiction, be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. The prior period condensed consolidated balance sheet has not been reclassified.

During the quarter ended March 31, 2016, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 Leases, which will require us to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases currently referred to as operating leases. This requirement is effective for 2020, although early adoption is permitted. The update allows for several different methods of application and adoption of the requirement. We are currently evaluating these methods, in what period we will adopt the requirement, and the impact of this requirement, which we do not believe will be material to our consolidated financial statements as a whole.