MMSD recognized as a "2024 Utility of the Future" Today Program to Honor Innovative Utilities

11/08/24 09:00:am

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is proud to share we have been selected as a "2024 Utility of the Future”. This program celebrates the achievements of utilities that are leading the way in water reuse, resource recovery, and fostering outside-the-box partnerships. Congratulations to all the 45 honorees for their forward-thinking approaches to water management and community engagement.

MMSD commissioners holding the 2024 utility of the year banner

MMSD is recognized as a premier water reclamation utility in the United States. The Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility became operational in 1926 and piloted the activated sludge treatment process. In 1927, MMSD began production of its biosolids fertilizer, Milorganite®, which is still used on golf courses and sold at garden centers throughout the United States. MMSD operations expanded in 1968 with the addition of a second facility, South Shore.

Since 1994, the MMSD the Inline Storage System, the "Deep Tunnels," reduced overflows from 50 – 60 per year to an average of just over 2 per year. The Deep Tunnel operation has captured and cleaned an average of 98.56% of stormwater and wastewater entering its system.

Building on this foundation of excellence, in the late 1990s, MMSD broadened its vision and directed resources to incorporate a comprehensive watershed approach to meet its charge to protect public health and the region’s waterways. With visionary leadership and innovative organizational culture, MMSD integrated watershed-based planning with exemplary operations of facilities and conveyance systems.

MMSD's 2035 Vision has two key elements: integrated watershed management and climate change mitigation/adaptation, emphasizing energy efficiency, which is foundational to the leadership MMSD is implementing through our sustainability actions.

The MMSD 2050 Facilities Plan, builds on the 2035 Vision energy objectives -- be a zero energy user from outside sources and be an energy provider to outside sources. In 2024, MMSD's updated Energy Plan outlines and prioritizes energy-related actions to reach these goals.

Local Projects

Learn about local flood management projects and how to get involved in your community.

Water Quality Protection

MMSD's Water Quality Protection team collects, monitors, and tracks evidence to improve and protect our rivers, Lake Michigan, and the Watersheds in MMSD's service area.

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure captures, absorbs or stores rain and melting snow, taking on numerous shapes and sizes from 55-gallon rain barrels to trees and porous pavers for parking lots, driveways and sidewalks. You can see green roofs on buildings or bioswales along city streets.

Greenseams®

The Greenseams® program helps prevent future flooding and water pollution while supporting and protecting MMSD's structural flood management projects - infrastructure investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Greenseams® is an innovative flood management program that permanently protects key lands containing water-absorbing soils.