The purpose of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Research Program is to execute research studies that:

 

  • Optimize operational performance and efficiency,
  • Eliminate operational waste,
  • Maximize resource recovery,
  • Troubleshoot process pain points,
  • Evaluate risks of future regulations and threats to services,
  • Support capital improvement planning,
  • Support integrated watershed management,
  • Promote public health, and
  • Advance the organization towards MMSD's strategic and vision goals.            
  • Proteus Upflow Media Filter

    Proteus Upflow Media Filter

    The Proteus Upflow Media Filter is novel technology used for primary treatment of wastewater in lieu of traditional primary clarifiers. MMSD is evaluating this technology as a possible primary filter alternative for the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility. This image depicts the small scale pilot unit that was run at the South Shore Water Reclamation Facility.

  • Double Ring Infiltrometer

    Double Ring Infiltrometer

    MMSD conducts infiltration testing to evaluate how quickly water infiltrates soil. We track the performance of different soil-based green infrastructure practices to evaluate their ability to manage water where it falls over time. The circular metal apparatus is known as a double ring infiltrometer.

  • Water Wash Landfill Gas Pilot

    Water Wash Landfill Gas Pilot

    Water wash landfill gas upgrading pilot. The pilot takes landfill gas and scrubs out the CO2 and other impurities using plant effluent to produce a higher methane-content gas.

  • GI Overpass Downspout Monitoring

    GI Overpass Downspout Monitoring

    This picture depicts an autosampler collecting water samples from a Marquette Overpass downspout in Milwaukee. MMSD monitors green infrastructure for water quality parameters to evaluate pollutant removal performance. Water quality benefits are a co-benefit of managing water where it falls.

Spotlight: Environmental Research – The Watercourse Corridor Study

Since 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and MMSD have been partners in the Milwaukee Area Watercourse Corridor Study. The USGS has applied a multi-disciplinary approach to monitor and assess stream water quality within studies of aquatic communities, geomorphology and habitat, water and sediment, and streamflow. Results are provided to MMSD and watershed management agencies for planning and decision-making. To learn more, visit the MMSD Corridor Study website.

Stocking fish in river in the Milwaukee area.

Electrofishing with a backpack shocker at Underwood Creek at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Electrofishing momentarily stuns the fish with an electrical shock; they are netted, identified and measured, then released alive to the stream as quickly as possible to reduce any stress. The shock does not harm the fish and does not cause lasting effects. MMSD collaborates with USGS on fish monitoring to evaluate the success of watercourse restoration projects and to evaluate the health of the aquatic environment. Photo Credit: USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center.

Spotlight: Reclamation Facility Optimization and Decarbonization Research

MMSD in partnership with Black and Veatch, Argonne National Lab, Marquette University, and The Water Research Foundation, will test two different primary filtration systems to divert carbon away from the downstream activated sludge processes. These innovations offer the opportunity to decrease sludge production by 43%, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in downstream disposal processes.

Additionally, the project will reduce energy demands for aeration costs, reducing the scope two emissions, and increase in biogas production to offset purchased energy cost. This effort is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office. To learn more about the award, go to the U.S. Department of Energy’s website, topic area 2, project 2. Additionally, MMSD is receiving a grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to help with equipment costs.

Spotlight: Green Infrastructure Research

Green infrastructure (GI) research is advancing the planning, design, and implementation of GI. Research on emerging technologies and materials in GI are critical to understanding and optimizing the function of green infrastructure. Research also leads to advancements in design standards and materials used to construct GI.   

Drone in the sky to survey green infrastructure

Look closely at the middle of the image, right of center, and you will see a drone capturing images of the bioswale located at the MMSD Headquarters. MMSD is collaborating with Marquette University, peer utilities, and industry partners to evaluate the ability to use high-resolution images to train machine learning models to identify and alert staff about maintenance needs of green infrastructure.

MMSD's Fresh Coast Guardians Green Infrastructure initiative