Organization	6 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Note 1. Organization Mueller Water Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, operates in two business segments: Mueller Co. 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. 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. On January 6, 2017, we sold our former Anvil segment. Anvil's results of operations and the gain from its sale have been classified as discontinued operations, and its assets and liabilities have been classified as held for sale, for all periods presented. On February 6, 2017, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) to repurchase $50 million of our outstanding common stock. On February 7, 2017, we paid $50 million to Bank of America, for which we received an initial delivery of approximately 2.9 million shares of our common stock. We received another 1.2 million shares of our common stock in April 2017 and May 2017, which fulfilled the agreement. The total number of shares of our common stock repurchased pursuant to the agreement was based on the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of our common stock, less a fixed discount, over the term of the agreement. 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. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at September 30, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.

Note 1. Organization

Mueller Water Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, operates in two business segments: Mueller Co. 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. 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.

On January 6, 2017, we sold our former Anvil segment. Anvil's results of operations and the gain from its sale have been classified as discontinued operations, and its assets and liabilities have been classified as held for sale, for all periods presented.

On February 6, 2017, we entered into an accelerated share repurchase agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) to repurchase $50 million of our outstanding common stock. On February 7, 2017, we paid $50 million to Bank of America, for which we received an initial delivery of approximately 2.9 million shares of our common stock. We received another 1.2 million shares of our common stock in April 2017 and May 2017, which fulfilled the agreement. The total number of shares of our common stock repurchased pursuant to the agreement was based on the average of the daily volume-weighted average prices of our common stock, less a fixed discount, over the term of the agreement.

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. The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at September 30, 2016 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.