MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Milwaukee-area advocacy group Common Ground is facing a cease-and-desist order from the operator of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District over claims the group made in a statement regarding a combined sewer overflow pipe unveiled last week.
MMSD revealed a clog in a combined sewer overflow pipe July 15, hours after a statement was released by Alderwoman Marina Dimitrijevic that indicated the clog may have contributed to the historic flooding events experienced by residents and businesses in the Bay View neighborhood she represents in August of 2025 and April of 2026. During a press conference, MMSD Executive Director Kevin Shafer told reporters responsibility for clearing the clog was MMSD’s and not that of MMSD operator Veolia.
“This is an MMSD responsibility. It was not Veolia at all,” said Shafer. “They’re responsible for inspecting it when we tell them to. But because it was submerged, we never told them to do it because it was too hard to get into it.”…