Infiltration and Inflow (I/I) Reduction Project
The City of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District (MMSD) have selected an area in the Fairview neighborhood to perform a demonstration project to help reduce the amount of clear rain water entering the sanitary sewer system. The entry of clear water into the sanitary sewer system is referred to as inflow and infiltration or I/I. Participation in this project will help to reduce the risk of basement backups for you and your neighbors. (Please see the Project Area Map to see if your property is within the project limits).
Residents were notified via a letter. (Please note a different letter from City of Milwaukee - Environmental Engineering Section erroneously listed a Nov. 1, 2019 date rather than Nov. 1, 2018.)
This project proposes work to be performed on your property, to help reduce the amount of clear water entering the sanitary sewer system, which will help reduce the risks of basement backups for you and your neighbors.
This project provides two separate solutions to the help reduce the I/I in the sanitary sewer system. The first solution is to rehabilitate your home’s sanitary building sewer lateral using trenchless cured-in-place pipe technology. This work will seal leaking joints and cracks, prevent root intrusion into the lateral, and provide a new structural pipe to serve your home.
The second solution is to disconnect your home’s foundation drains from the sanitary sewer system, and install a sump pump in your basement. This work will prevent the ground water accumulated by your foundation drains from entering the sanitary sewer system. Please note that if your home has an existing sump pump, you are not eligible to participate in the foundation drain disconnection portion of the project. Also note that upgraded electrical services are required to run a sump pump. If your home does not have upgraded electrical services, an upgrade at your own cost will be required to participate.
Participation in these projects is completely voluntary. The property owner has the option to participate in either or both of the proposed solutions (assuming your home has no existing sump pump), or not to participate at all. For this project to be successful, we are hopeful that you will participate and grant the City right of entry on your property to perform the work. All work will be completed at NO COST TO YOU.
Learn more about how this project can help reduce the risk of basement flooding in your neighborhood.
Read this PDF for more detailed information on this program.
If you have any questions, please contact Wadee Rafati of the City of Milwaukee's Environmental Engineering Section at 414-286-0506.
PROJECT CLEAN & GREEN is a City-wide program designed to get everyone involved in cleaning up their properties and neighborhoods. Residents can place unwanted furniture, mattresses, household items, yard and garden waste, twigs and leaves, up to 2 cubic yards of tree trimmings, and up to 5 tires at the garbage collection point (curb or alley) on their scheduled garbage collection day.
This is your opportunity to get rid of excess household debris at no cost. After your Project Clean & Green week of June 11th - 17th, there will be a $50-$150 charge for all bulky pickup requests larger than 1 cubic yard (about the size of an easy chair). Crews will not collect appliances, TVs, electronics, construction debris, paint, and grass clippings. These items can be taken to a City Self Help site for proper disposal. Household hazardous waste can be taken to 3879 W Lincoln Avenue on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays from 7AM – 3PM.
If your neighborhood wishes to schedule a group cleanup, please visit Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful online or call 414-272-5462 for clean-up bags, gloves, or to borrow a limited number of clean-up tools (rakes, shovels, brooms).
The Department of Public Works is taking reservations for neighborhood cleanup boxes. The 2019 program will place up to 13 boxes each Saturday from April 27 through July 27. To deter illegal dumping and to maximize the use of the boxes by cleanup organizers, boxes will be placed between 2AM and 10AM on Saturday morning and picked up after 4PM the same day.
The following criteria will be used to screen callers requesting clean up boxes:
- Requestors must organize a neighborhood clean up prior to reserving a box
- Boxes are only placed on accessible street corners — not on vacant lots or parking surfaces
- Boxes are not placed for businesses, schools or churches
- Boxes will not be relocated once placed — they will be removed if neighbors complain
- Reservations are limited to 2 boxes per weekend (out of maximum 13 boxes)
- Organizers may only reserve boxes once every eight weeks
The following items are not to be placed in clean up boxes:
- Construction and building material, TVs, electronics & appliances, tires, tree limbs, leaves, grass — these items should be taken to self help for proper recycling or composting
- Recyclables (paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, steel and aluminum cans} — these items should be taken to self help for proper recycling
- Hazardous Waste (paint thinner, pesticides, used motor oil, etc) — these items should be taken to the HHW site at 3879 W Lincoln on Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays for proper handling
Neighborhood groups are encouraged to use these containers to clean up and beautify their communities. Residents who witness private contractors illegally dumping items into cleanup boxes should contact the Police Department at their non-emergency number (414-933-4444). Cleanup boxes can be reserved by calling 414-286-3599.
Learn More About 100-year Floodplain Map Updates
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission is currently finalizing updated 100-year floodplain maps for the City of Milwaukee within the Kinnickinnic (KK) River watershed. These updated floodplains cover significantly larger areas than the existing FEMA floodplain maps and reflect a much greater flood risk to homes and businesses within several areas throughout the watershed. In response to the floodplain update, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is currently undergoing an update to its KK River Watershed Flood Management Plan in order to develop and evaluate various alternatives to reduce this increased flood risk (Read the full article and view the MMSD map).
Start a Block Watch
To start a Block Watch in you area, contact Officers Felix or Klein at 414-935-7198 or e-mail Officer Felix at [email protected].