With heavy storms marching toward southeastern Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has issued a Water Drop Alert, asking residents across the metro area to sharply cut water use. The district says delaying laundry and dishwashing, taking shorter showers and emptying rain barrels can keep extra gallons out of the combined sewer system and help reduce the risk of sewage backing up into basements. The request comes as forecasters warn of additional rain and flood watches for parts of the state.
What the alert asks you to do
MMSD’s alert boils down to a few simple moves: hold off on washing dishes and doing laundry, take shorter showers and empty rain barrels. Every drop kept out of the sewer, the district says, helps lower the risk of basement backups. According to MMSD, residents can sign up for Water Drop Alerts by texting WATERDROP to 414-296-4422. The district says these reminders go out when facilities approach capacity and are intended to reduce the need for untreated discharges into local…..