The Brief
- The Deep Tunnel is at 77% capacity due to heavy rain, prompting MMSD to ask residents to limit water usage to prevent overflows and basement backups.
- Intense rainfall flooded streets and parks, leading to roughly 50 emergency calls for submerged vehicles.
- Officials are investigating five potential sanitary sewer overflows in northern service areas like Bayside and River Hills following Monday’s storms.
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is urging residents to limit their water use, to prevent sewer overflows.
Preventing sewer overflows
What we know:
Right now, the Deep Tunnel is at 77% capacity, totaling 331 million gallons of waste water, waiting to be treated. With more rain in the forecast, and an already saturated ground, MMSD is asking people to help limit stresses on the wastewater treatment system.
“We’re not saying don’t take a shower, don’t use a bathroom, please do. Try to use less water in other parts of your life,” said MMSD spokesperson Bill Graffin. “The more water we keep out of the sewer system, that’s water that can’t become an overflow or a basement backup or problem for someone else.”
Heavy rain Tuesday, Wednesday
Dig deeper:
Some of the heaviest rainfall Tuesday night and Wednesday morning fell on the city’s north side, causing localized flooding in low lying areas and streets, stranding some drivers – including some who tried to drive through the high floodwaters. The Milwaukee Fire Department says it received about 50 calls for help relating to submerged cars in the city.…