Environmental-Health
Environmental health utilizes a combination of surveillance, health promotion, enforcement, and assessment to prevent disease and injury, eliminate the disparate impact of environmental health risks and threats on population subgroups, and create health-supportive environments where everyone in Milwaukee has an equal chance to thrive. Projects/areas of investigation include:
- Air Quality / Carbon Monoxide
- Animal Bites / Rabies Control
- Climate Change / Extreme Weather
- Drinking Water Quality
- Human Health Hazards
- Recreational Water Quality
Climate Change and Health
Climate change is, and will continue, affecting public health. City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) protects community health by assessing climate-related risks, directing preparedness and response activities, and coordinating with partners across emergency management, environmental agencies, and community organizations. Our responsibilities include outreach and education on heat, air quality, vector-borne disease, water safety, and targeted interventions for populations most at risk, including older adults, children, outdoor workers, and communities with limited access to resources.
Additional information is available on the following pages:
Recreational Water Quality
To assure that Milwaukee beach-goers have safe, healthy summer fun at the beach, the City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) operates from Memorial Day through Labor Day to monitor water quality at each of the city’s three public beaches and issues daily water quality notifications to the public.
Water samples are collected and analyzed at the City of Milwaukee Health Department laboratory. Analysis determines the levels of E. coli, a microorganism, in the water. While E. coli is normally found in bodies of water, elevated levels can raise health concerns.
In addition, combining test results with a model that looks at a variety of beach conditions such as water temperature, wind direction, wave height, and more allows MHD staff to predict the E.coli value and issue public notifications daily online and at each beach.
Additional information is available on the following page:
- Beach Water Quality information on the interpretation of beach water quality advisories, any current advisories or warnings, as well as historical statistics
Climate Change and Health
Climate Change and Health
Climate change is, and will continue, affecting public health. To enhance regional awareness of climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience activities, the City of Milwaukee Health Department's Climate Change and Health project has partnered with Reflo—Sustainable Water Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Milwaukee. Together, the MHD and Reflo have worked to support climate change adaptation and promote community health and health equity by sustainably improving food security, decreasing storm-water runoff, and decreasing carbon emissions associated with the transportation of food, water treatment, and transmission.
Through a collaborative project, Reflo has partnered with several Milwaukee community gardens to provide rainwater harvesting structures. The goal is simple: To use rainwater to provide a sustainable water source for Milwaukee’s community gardens and reduce dependence on City water. This simple step can help reduce the likelihood of local flooding, basement backups, and combined sewer overflows which are all potential consequences of more frequent and intense storms associated with climate change. The lessons learned at these locations helped create a resource guide for the replication of these efforts.
As part of the project, the MHD hosted seven educational sessions to engage and educate the public about climate change, water, and health.
The City of Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) combines surveillance, health promotion, enforcement, and assessment to prevent disease, reduce health risks, and create environments where everyone has an equal opportunity to thrive. MHD aims to ensure that environmental health risks do not disproportionately affect specific population subgroups, fostering equitable health outcomes for all in Milwaukee.
Projects and areas of investigation include:
- Air Quality / Carbon Monoxide
- Animal Bites / Rabies Control
- Climate Change / Extreme Weather
- Drinking Water Quality
- Human Health Hazards
- Recreational Water Quality
