5. 252210 Communication from the Department of Public Works and Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District relating to the causes of and responses to flooding incidents.
I’m submitting this comment in support of Mothership Bar, its employees and the surrounding BV residents who have now been failed by the City of Milwaukee not once, but twice
Mothership is a neighborhood institution that has brought national recognition to Milwaukee. They were named 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists, helping put this city (a city they love and continue to invest in) on the map. And how has the city repaid them?
With sewage backups. With flooding. With silence. With inaction. With a failing infrastructure system that has now damaged their property, threatened their livelihood, and placed the burden of cleanup, loss, and survival on the very people who are making Milwaukee better. TWICE.
The City of Milwaukee cannot continue to benefit from the culture, labor, tax revenue, and national attention that small businesses like Mothership bring, while failing to protect them from basic infrastructure breakdowns.
What is being done right now to address the flooding and sewer backup issues in this area?
What is the timeline for permanent infrastructure improvements?
Mothership has shown up for Milwaukee. It is long past time for Milwaukee to show up for Mothership.
I have repeatedly raised concerns that many City service requests and referrals go unanswered. One issue remains unresolved: a sewer grate on W. Martin Drive is still covered by debris netting left from a resurfacing project completed in November 2022. Despite multiple assurances—dating back over forty months and as recently as last week—that it would be cleared, the obstruction remained as of April 28, 2026.
This reflects a broader pattern. I currently have requests dating back as far as six years that remain open or unresolved. This is not an isolated issue, as many residents report similar experiences.
In response, the Mayor’s Office acknowledged my concerns and stated they were shared with Public Works and Neighborhood Services for review.
However, longstanding requests persist without clear resolution, raising concerns about follow-through and accountability.
I am a Bay View resident and employee at The Mothership bar. I have been present at the bar for both floods and witnessed firsthand the failure of city sewage infrastructure twice in under a year. I want to make it clear that when the deep sewage pipeline is backing up to the point of blowing manhole covers 3 feet into the air before backing into our basements with sewage- costing tens to hundreds of thousands in damage, is due to infrastructure failure and is not something a property owner can mitigate with a back flow valve or sump pump installation.
In a neighborhood where property taxes have very recently seen a substantial increase, the lack of action taken to prevent another devastating failure after August’s flood is embarrassing and cavalier. I implore the city to find a solution to this problem before it happens for a third time in a one year span. Projections for climate change in our region predict more frequent flooding and extreme weather. The time to allocate funding to find a solution to this problem is now. I look forward to hearing a plan of action along with a timeline soon.
Thank you for addressing this matter.
I’m incredibly disappointed that there won’t be public comments taken on this subject at the meeting.
I believe that the people affected by the sewage backup and subsequent flooding on April 15th should have a voice in this discussion.
We run a small, community business. Because of that, we operate on very thin margins to make our establishment accessible. The loss of product (due to contamination from sewage) coupled with the business interruption has been very difficult for us to weather.
Intervention from the city is absolutely necessary to keep our business, and our neighborhood solvent.
The empty lot on Bay Street between Lincoln and Conway seems like a perfect space for a retention or detention pond to help mitigate the load on the failing stormwater system in our neighborhood.
I’d like the city to explore these options to prevent homes and businesses from suffering further damage as a result of the next sewer system failure.
I am a homeowner on the 2700 block of South Delaware Avenue since 2019, requesting information on what MMSD and DPW are doing to address recurring flooding and sewer backup issues on our block.
In August 2025, our home sustained significant damage from a sewer backup through the floor drain and seepage through basement windows. Two weeks ago we experienced sewer backup again and wall seepage from water pooling out front.
Prior to that event, we had no history of sewer backup or water intrusion of any kind. My neighbors share this experience.
I am taking steps within my control — downspout disconnection, waterproofing contractors, etc... — but there is currently no storm drain on our side of South Delaware Avenue, and our sewer system appears unable to handle the water load required to prevent backups.
I respectfully request responses to the following:
1. What is currently underway to address flooding on this block?
2. What is the timeline for a storm drain on our side of the street?
3. What steps are being taken to prevent future sewer backups?
4. What relief is available to residents in the meantime?
I have been a Bay View resident for a majority of my life, and it's despicable that we are having to regain footing from the second"once in a lifetime" event in eight months. My community members and loved ones are hurting, and I believe it's beyond time to reallocate funds to fix this city's infrastructure problem. Residents are forced, yet again, to rebuild their livelihoods because we refuse to fix a known problem.
My name is Susan Gadacz, owner of two homes in the 2500 block of S. Delaware Ave. I am writing regarding the repeated flooding on April 15 and last August. First, thank you to Ald. Dimitrijevic, Ms. Williams, and MPS for their immediate help. During the latest storm, city crews responded within 30 minutes to clear drains. They found drains clogged with wood chips from the playground debris from last August that was never cleared and heavy leaf accumulation. Our infrastructure is failing; too many streets, including Delaware, Pryor, Seeley, Linebarger, Fulton, and Iron, converge into a drainage system that cannot handle the volume. It is disheartening to hear leadership blame residential garbage when the evidence points to inadequate maintenance and outdated infrastructure. We need real solutions, not finger-pointing. I ask that you include residents from high-flood areas in the mitigation task force. We need a proactive maintenance schedule for high-risk drains and a long-term plan to modernize this sewer drain bottleneck. Repeated flooding is unsustainable for our property values, our tax base, and our health. This can't keep happening. Thank you.
In a time when the mayor's stated goal is to get Milwaukee to one million residents, we shouldn't be bailing out our homes, schools & businesses from "once in a century" floods twice in less than one year. A world-class city should never be one storm away from preventable destruction - particularly when the neighborhood in question was the epicenter of the August 1986 flood, in which two people died. We have known about this issue for decades. I suggest we pause using TIF money to incentivize building thousands of luxury rental apartments/storefronts that are largely sitting empty, and direct it toward fixing what we already have. Thank you in advance for your consideration of these comments.
I live on S Fulton. This summer we had sewage rise approximately 3 feet in our basement. We lost our hot water heater, our furnace, our laundry machines, tools, and many other valuable items. While those things eventually got replaced, we also lost literally every single momento from the last 20 years of our life together were taken away as well. Every family photograph, every hand-me-down holiday ornament, every piece of art that was ever created by myself or my partner is gone. So many stupid trinkets that we could look at and laugh at while remembering the "old days." Items we could hold tight and shed a tear, because they were tied to people we loved and miss. All gone.
We were told this was a once-in-a-lifetime event, one that hadn't happened around here for at least 50 years.
Then 8 months later, it happened AGAIN. TO THE EXACT SAME PEOPLE. There has been a ton of work on the sewers on the stretch from Lincoln south to Iron, and I suspect some of the work caused these issues. It is imperative the city takes a deep-dive into the cause.
I have worked at Mothership Bar at 2301 S. Logan Ave. for seven years and I am once again, unbelievably, facing lack of work due to another flood. This last flood, water from underneath the bar had so much pressure built up it split open our basement concrete sending groundwater spewing in from the floor, manhole covers once again blown off, sewage spewing from drains and in from the street, completely unclogged street drains unable to clear or take on any more water, vehicles being totaled while people were just trying to get home to check on their own basements, I could go on and on.
Our bar recently got nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar program while fighting for its life against the first flood in August and now going through another during our seven year anniversary is absolutely heartbreaking. I implore this committee to stand up for its people and create a plan to help remedy this clearly ongoing infrastructure issue costing its neighbors thousands of dollars and sanity. This is one of the most sought after neighborhoods to live and work in and the residents shouldn’t feel abandoned.
I have been a Bay View resident since 2018; I am a transplant from the East Coast. I visited Bay View for 72 hours in February and on June 1st we drove across the country to reside in the place we found so inspiring in the depth of winter.
After 7 years of living between the Mothership & the Newport, we now reside on S Fulton Street. We have experienced two "once in a lifetime" "historic floods; meaning in an 8 month space we had sewage back up into the floor drains of our basement and flood our basement twice. I agree with all the concerns and frustrations of my neighbors. We lost pretty much everything in the lower level during the August 2025 sewer back up (including items that cannot be replaced like an art portfolio) & while the pile on the curb is smaller this time- it is still equally as difficult to watch pickers go through the things you never meant to live curbside. I would like the reassurance it is okay to be away from my home in a rain storm without a disaster occurring and some transparent insight to the findings during the most recent investigations post storm occurrences.
I am a resident of the 2300 block of South Logan Avenue. Once again this spring, our basement backed up with raw sewage. While the damage was not as extensive as last summer, the ongoing risk has created a constant and exhausting anxiety in our home whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
The surrounding area experienced similar flooding again, including Bay Street, Bay View Dog Park, the area around the empty field, and The Mother Ship bar. The pattern is consistent with last summer and suggests an unresolved, recurring issue.
We recognize that climate change is impacting our community now, not in the future. As a proud homeowner in Bay View, I want to see my tax dollars invested in infrastructure that protects the health and safety of our families, pets, neighbors, and the broader community.
Homeowners should not be left to manage the consequences of repeated sewer backups without a clear and actionable plan to address the root cause. I respectfully request detailed information on what actions MMSD and DPW are currently taking, and what future measures are planned, to mitigate flooding and prevent sewer backups—particularly on the 2300 block of South Logan Avenue.
I am a Milwaukee homeowner and, like many others, had never experienced a sewage backup until the past eight months. During this time, my basement has been impacted, resulting in costly cleanup, disruption, and ongoing concern about the reliability of the system.
The pattern of these events suggests this is not isolated, but part of a broader system issue. I appreciate the City and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District working toward long-term solutions, but those efforts do not address the immediate financial burden on homeowners.
Residents are being forced to absorb thousands in damages for a problem outside of their control. Preventative measures like backflow valves are recommended but come with significant upfront costs, especially after repairs.
I request clear communication on the cause and timeline for resolution, along with immediate financial assistance for impacted homeowners, including funding to offset the cost of installing backflow prevention systems.
Long-term fixes are necessary, but without short-term support, the burden is unfairly placed on residents.
I think the City of Milwaukee should look into the "sponge-city" method developed by landscape architect Kongjian Yu. There was an article published in the April 13, 2026 issue of The New Yorker, "Taking on Water" by Eric Klinenberg, which Milwaukee was mentioned in. Our Deep Tunnel and the sewer systems constitute "gray" infrastructure but we need to consider "green" and "blue" solutions by improving parks and natural eco-systems to help essentially soak and hold flood waters to offset the load from the sewers. It doesn't require ripping up pipes, just improving the landscape above ground, which could prove less costly and provides many benefits to the city. There are many cities incorporating this method across the world and Milwaukee should take notice. Climate change is here and we need to develop creative approaches to accommodate the torrential rain that is only going to increase over time.
I have lived in my house for over 20 years and had never experienced basement flooding until the past 8 months. During this time, my basement has flooded twice, both caused by sewer backup.
These incidents have caused damage, disruption, and ongoing concern about the reliability of the sewer system serving my property. Given the sudden onset and repeated nature of the issue, this does not appear to be an isolated event.
I am requesting that the City, the Department of Public Works, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District investigate the cause of these sewer backups and take corrective action to prevent future occurrences. At a minimum, I would like clarity on what is causing these failures and what specific steps will be taken to address them.
Homeowners should not be left to manage the consequences of recurring sewer backups without a clear plan to resolve the underlying issue.
I echo the concerns and frustration of many of my neighbors. We lost almost everything in the lower level during the August 2025 sewer back up and incurred tens of thousands of dollars in remediation, repair, mitigation, and losses. Then again had sewer back up in April 2026.
We need improvements in infrastructure that address the increasing frequency of severe weather events.
-investigation into causes of repeated sewer back up
- improved infrastructure and general sewage management in our specific area to prevent future ups
- green solutions such as considering a renovation of nearby streets and fields to include water mitigation design, while ensuring recreation areas remain for city youth
- assessment of how rain runoff from 794 is impacting our neighborhood
- water mitigation grant programs for the city to fund waterproofing and sewer back up proofing of residences particularly those with Palmer valves
We and many of our neighbors experienced sewage entering our homes from the outdated MMSD system, TWICE in the last year. (Note this was NOT flooding - this was raw sewage entering our homes, damaging our property and threatening our health.)
The outdated sewer system is undersized to convey and treat the stormwater from these extreme rain events. These storms are only getting more common. Rather than thinking forward and investing in modernizing the system by separating storm and sewer drains, MMSD has chosen to invest in storage capacity. Despite this, sewage still entered our homes and billions of gallons of raw sewage was still dumped into Lake Michigan.
We're told as homeowners that our best option is to install backwater valves - at our expense - to protect ourselves and our homes from sewage coming from MMSD's outdated system. Unless DPW / MMSD is planning to take immediate action to prevent this in the future, I think they should bear the expense of protecting each of our properties from their outdated and inadequate system.
Your neighbors on Fulton, Iron, Pryor, Linebarger and Delaware.
I am a resident of the 2700 block of South Delaware Avenue. Our basement flooded due to sewer backup in August 2025 and again in April 2026. In addition, Delaware Ave filled with water in both events.
As a homeowner, I am taking steps within my control to mitigate water risk, including disconnecting downspouts and working with basement contractors on drainage.
I respectfully request information on what actions MMSD and DPW are taking and will take to mitigate water risk, specifically preventing future sewer backups and preventing flooding on South Delaware Ave.
Climate change is accelerating, causing larger flood events than were anticipated when projects like the Deep Tunnel were planned. This means that we must continue developing our infrastructure and seeking ways to protect our homes and Lake Michigan. In particular, we need to reduce impermeable surfaces in Milwaukee to prevent flooding. To do so, I think the City of Milwaukee needs to prioritize restoring indigenous plants and wetlands that can mitigate flooding. Wherever possible, inactive or little used industrial areas should be "rewilded" because this is a proven way to reduce the risk of flooding while also creating green spaces for the benefit of Milwaukeeans.
- Tom Hansberger, Bay View resident, proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America
I’m submitting this comment in support of Mothership Bar, its employees and the surrounding BV residents who have now been failed by the City of Milwaukee not once, but twice
Mothership is a neighborhood institution that has brought national recognition to Milwaukee. They were named 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists, helping put this city (a city they love and continue to invest in) on the map. And how has the city repaid them?
With sewage backups. With flooding. With silence. With inaction. With a failing infrastructure system that has now damaged their property, threatened their livelihood, and placed the burden of cleanup, loss, and survival on the very people who are making Milwaukee better. TWICE.
The City of Milwaukee cannot continue to benefit from the culture, labor, tax revenue, and national attention that small businesses like Mothership bring, while failing to protect them from basic infrastructure breakdowns.
What is being done right now to address the flooding and sewer backup issues in this area?
What is the timeline for permanent infrastructure improvements?
Mothership has shown up for Milwaukee. It is long past time for Milwaukee to show up for Mothership.
I have repeatedly raised concerns that many City service requests and referrals go unanswered. One issue remains unresolved: a sewer grate on W. Martin Drive is still covered by debris netting left from a resurfacing project completed in November 2022. Despite multiple assurances—dating back over forty months and as recently as last week—that it would be cleared, the obstruction remained as of April 28, 2026.
This reflects a broader pattern. I currently have requests dating back as far as six years that remain open or unresolved. This is not an isolated issue, as many residents report similar experiences.
In response, the Mayor’s Office acknowledged my concerns and stated they were shared with Public Works and Neighborhood Services for review.
However, longstanding requests persist without clear resolution, raising concerns about follow-through and accountability.
Joseph Duncan
1260 N 43rd St.
I am a Bay View resident and employee at The Mothership bar. I have been present at the bar for both floods and witnessed firsthand the failure of city sewage infrastructure twice in under a year. I want to make it clear that when the deep sewage pipeline is backing up to the point of blowing manhole covers 3 feet into the air before backing into our basements with sewage- costing tens to hundreds of thousands in damage, is due to infrastructure failure and is not something a property owner can mitigate with a back flow valve or sump pump installation.
In a neighborhood where property taxes have very recently seen a substantial increase, the lack of action taken to prevent another devastating failure after August’s flood is embarrassing and cavalier. I implore the city to find a solution to this problem before it happens for a third time in a one year span. Projections for climate change in our region predict more frequent flooding and extreme weather. The time to allocate funding to find a solution to this problem is now. I look forward to hearing a plan of action along with a timeline soon.
Thank you for addressing this matter.
My family owns the Newport at 939 E Conway.
I’m incredibly disappointed that there won’t be public comments taken on this subject at the meeting.
I believe that the people affected by the sewage backup and subsequent flooding on April 15th should have a voice in this discussion.
We run a small, community business. Because of that, we operate on very thin margins to make our establishment accessible. The loss of product (due to contamination from sewage) coupled with the business interruption has been very difficult for us to weather.
Intervention from the city is absolutely necessary to keep our business, and our neighborhood solvent.
The empty lot on Bay Street between Lincoln and Conway seems like a perfect space for a retention or detention pond to help mitigate the load on the failing stormwater system in our neighborhood.
I’d like the city to explore these options to prevent homes and businesses from suffering further damage as a result of the next sewer system failure.
I am a homeowner on the 2700 block of South Delaware Avenue since 2019, requesting information on what MMSD and DPW are doing to address recurring flooding and sewer backup issues on our block.
In August 2025, our home sustained significant damage from a sewer backup through the floor drain and seepage through basement windows. Two weeks ago we experienced sewer backup again and wall seepage from water pooling out front.
Prior to that event, we had no history of sewer backup or water intrusion of any kind. My neighbors share this experience.
I am taking steps within my control — downspout disconnection, waterproofing contractors, etc... — but there is currently no storm drain on our side of South Delaware Avenue, and our sewer system appears unable to handle the water load required to prevent backups.
I respectfully request responses to the following:
1. What is currently underway to address flooding on this block?
2. What is the timeline for a storm drain on our side of the street?
3. What steps are being taken to prevent future sewer backups?
4. What relief is available to residents in the meantime?
Respectfully,
Kevin Hill
I have been a Bay View resident for a majority of my life, and it's despicable that we are having to regain footing from the second"once in a lifetime" event in eight months. My community members and loved ones are hurting, and I believe it's beyond time to reallocate funds to fix this city's infrastructure problem. Residents are forced, yet again, to rebuild their livelihoods because we refuse to fix a known problem.
My name is Susan Gadacz, owner of two homes in the 2500 block of S. Delaware Ave. I am writing regarding the repeated flooding on April 15 and last August. First, thank you to Ald. Dimitrijevic, Ms. Williams, and MPS for their immediate help. During the latest storm, city crews responded within 30 minutes to clear drains. They found drains clogged with wood chips from the playground debris from last August that was never cleared and heavy leaf accumulation. Our infrastructure is failing; too many streets, including Delaware, Pryor, Seeley, Linebarger, Fulton, and Iron, converge into a drainage system that cannot handle the volume. It is disheartening to hear leadership blame residential garbage when the evidence points to inadequate maintenance and outdated infrastructure. We need real solutions, not finger-pointing. I ask that you include residents from high-flood areas in the mitigation task force. We need a proactive maintenance schedule for high-risk drains and a long-term plan to modernize this sewer drain bottleneck. Repeated flooding is unsustainable for our property values, our tax base, and our health. This can't keep happening. Thank you.
In a time when the mayor's stated goal is to get Milwaukee to one million residents, we shouldn't be bailing out our homes, schools & businesses from "once in a century" floods twice in less than one year. A world-class city should never be one storm away from preventable destruction - particularly when the neighborhood in question was the epicenter of the August 1986 flood, in which two people died. We have known about this issue for decades. I suggest we pause using TIF money to incentivize building thousands of luxury rental apartments/storefronts that are largely sitting empty, and direct it toward fixing what we already have. Thank you in advance for your consideration of these comments.
I live on S Fulton. This summer we had sewage rise approximately 3 feet in our basement. We lost our hot water heater, our furnace, our laundry machines, tools, and many other valuable items. While those things eventually got replaced, we also lost literally every single momento from the last 20 years of our life together were taken away as well. Every family photograph, every hand-me-down holiday ornament, every piece of art that was ever created by myself or my partner is gone. So many stupid trinkets that we could look at and laugh at while remembering the "old days." Items we could hold tight and shed a tear, because they were tied to people we loved and miss. All gone.
We were told this was a once-in-a-lifetime event, one that hadn't happened around here for at least 50 years.
Then 8 months later, it happened AGAIN. TO THE EXACT SAME PEOPLE. There has been a ton of work on the sewers on the stretch from Lincoln south to Iron, and I suspect some of the work caused these issues. It is imperative the city takes a deep-dive into the cause.
I have worked at Mothership Bar at 2301 S. Logan Ave. for seven years and I am once again, unbelievably, facing lack of work due to another flood. This last flood, water from underneath the bar had so much pressure built up it split open our basement concrete sending groundwater spewing in from the floor, manhole covers once again blown off, sewage spewing from drains and in from the street, completely unclogged street drains unable to clear or take on any more water, vehicles being totaled while people were just trying to get home to check on their own basements, I could go on and on.
Our bar recently got nominated for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar program while fighting for its life against the first flood in August and now going through another during our seven year anniversary is absolutely heartbreaking. I implore this committee to stand up for its people and create a plan to help remedy this clearly ongoing infrastructure issue costing its neighbors thousands of dollars and sanity. This is one of the most sought after neighborhoods to live and work in and the residents shouldn’t feel abandoned.
I have been a Bay View resident since 2018; I am a transplant from the East Coast. I visited Bay View for 72 hours in February and on June 1st we drove across the country to reside in the place we found so inspiring in the depth of winter.
After 7 years of living between the Mothership & the Newport, we now reside on S Fulton Street. We have experienced two "once in a lifetime" "historic floods; meaning in an 8 month space we had sewage back up into the floor drains of our basement and flood our basement twice. I agree with all the concerns and frustrations of my neighbors. We lost pretty much everything in the lower level during the August 2025 sewer back up (including items that cannot be replaced like an art portfolio) & while the pile on the curb is smaller this time- it is still equally as difficult to watch pickers go through the things you never meant to live curbside. I would like the reassurance it is okay to be away from my home in a rain storm without a disaster occurring and some transparent insight to the findings during the most recent investigations post storm occurrences.
I am a resident of the 2300 block of South Logan Avenue. Once again this spring, our basement backed up with raw sewage. While the damage was not as extensive as last summer, the ongoing risk has created a constant and exhausting anxiety in our home whenever heavy rainfall occurs.
The surrounding area experienced similar flooding again, including Bay Street, Bay View Dog Park, the area around the empty field, and The Mother Ship bar. The pattern is consistent with last summer and suggests an unresolved, recurring issue.
We recognize that climate change is impacting our community now, not in the future. As a proud homeowner in Bay View, I want to see my tax dollars invested in infrastructure that protects the health and safety of our families, pets, neighbors, and the broader community.
Homeowners should not be left to manage the consequences of repeated sewer backups without a clear and actionable plan to address the root cause. I respectfully request detailed information on what actions MMSD and DPW are currently taking, and what future measures are planned, to mitigate flooding and prevent sewer backups—particularly on the 2300 block of South Logan Avenue.
Thank you! KM
I am a Milwaukee homeowner and, like many others, had never experienced a sewage backup until the past eight months. During this time, my basement has been impacted, resulting in costly cleanup, disruption, and ongoing concern about the reliability of the system.
The pattern of these events suggests this is not isolated, but part of a broader system issue. I appreciate the City and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District working toward long-term solutions, but those efforts do not address the immediate financial burden on homeowners.
Residents are being forced to absorb thousands in damages for a problem outside of their control. Preventative measures like backflow valves are recommended but come with significant upfront costs, especially after repairs.
I request clear communication on the cause and timeline for resolution, along with immediate financial assistance for impacted homeowners, including funding to offset the cost of installing backflow prevention systems.
Long-term fixes are necessary, but without short-term support, the burden is unfairly placed on residents.
I think the City of Milwaukee should look into the "sponge-city" method developed by landscape architect Kongjian Yu. There was an article published in the April 13, 2026 issue of The New Yorker, "Taking on Water" by Eric Klinenberg, which Milwaukee was mentioned in. Our Deep Tunnel and the sewer systems constitute "gray" infrastructure but we need to consider "green" and "blue" solutions by improving parks and natural eco-systems to help essentially soak and hold flood waters to offset the load from the sewers. It doesn't require ripping up pipes, just improving the landscape above ground, which could prove less costly and provides many benefits to the city. There are many cities incorporating this method across the world and Milwaukee should take notice. Climate change is here and we need to develop creative approaches to accommodate the torrential rain that is only going to increase over time.
I have lived in my house for over 20 years and had never experienced basement flooding until the past 8 months. During this time, my basement has flooded twice, both caused by sewer backup.
These incidents have caused damage, disruption, and ongoing concern about the reliability of the sewer system serving my property. Given the sudden onset and repeated nature of the issue, this does not appear to be an isolated event.
I am requesting that the City, the Department of Public Works, and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District investigate the cause of these sewer backups and take corrective action to prevent future occurrences. At a minimum, I would like clarity on what is causing these failures and what specific steps will be taken to address them.
Homeowners should not be left to manage the consequences of recurring sewer backups without a clear plan to resolve the underlying issue.
I echo the concerns and frustration of many of my neighbors. We lost almost everything in the lower level during the August 2025 sewer back up and incurred tens of thousands of dollars in remediation, repair, mitigation, and losses. Then again had sewer back up in April 2026.
We need improvements in infrastructure that address the increasing frequency of severe weather events.
-investigation into causes of repeated sewer back up
- improved infrastructure and general sewage management in our specific area to prevent future ups
- green solutions such as considering a renovation of nearby streets and fields to include water mitigation design, while ensuring recreation areas remain for city youth
- assessment of how rain runoff from 794 is impacting our neighborhood
- water mitigation grant programs for the city to fund waterproofing and sewer back up proofing of residences particularly those with Palmer valves
We and many of our neighbors experienced sewage entering our homes from the outdated MMSD system, TWICE in the last year. (Note this was NOT flooding - this was raw sewage entering our homes, damaging our property and threatening our health.)
The outdated sewer system is undersized to convey and treat the stormwater from these extreme rain events. These storms are only getting more common. Rather than thinking forward and investing in modernizing the system by separating storm and sewer drains, MMSD has chosen to invest in storage capacity. Despite this, sewage still entered our homes and billions of gallons of raw sewage was still dumped into Lake Michigan.
We're told as homeowners that our best option is to install backwater valves - at our expense - to protect ourselves and our homes from sewage coming from MMSD's outdated system. Unless DPW / MMSD is planning to take immediate action to prevent this in the future, I think they should bear the expense of protecting each of our properties from their outdated and inadequate system.
Your neighbors on Fulton, Iron, Pryor, Linebarger and Delaware.
I am a resident of the 2700 block of South Delaware Avenue. Our basement flooded due to sewer backup in August 2025 and again in April 2026. In addition, Delaware Ave filled with water in both events.
As a homeowner, I am taking steps within my control to mitigate water risk, including disconnecting downspouts and working with basement contractors on drainage.
I respectfully request information on what actions MMSD and DPW are taking and will take to mitigate water risk, specifically preventing future sewer backups and preventing flooding on South Delaware Ave.
Thank you,
Daria Hall
Climate change is accelerating, causing larger flood events than were anticipated when projects like the Deep Tunnel were planned. This means that we must continue developing our infrastructure and seeking ways to protect our homes and Lake Michigan. In particular, we need to reduce impermeable surfaces in Milwaukee to prevent flooding. To do so, I think the City of Milwaukee needs to prioritize restoring indigenous plants and wetlands that can mitigate flooding. Wherever possible, inactive or little used industrial areas should be "rewilded" because this is a proven way to reduce the risk of flooding while also creating green spaces for the benefit of Milwaukeeans.
- Tom Hansberger, Bay View resident, proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America