Lincoln Creek became the unintended recipient of nearly 10,000 gallons of sewage on Tuesday, March 11, due to an error by a contractor for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). FOX6 News reports that workers from Veolia Water Milwaukee discharged the waste into a storm sewer, mistaking it for a sanitary sewer. This unfortunate mix-up resulted in the sewage entering the creek near 32nd and Hampton.
The workers at the heart of the accident were engaged in clearing water from an underground utility structure using a vacuum truck, and due to confusion between the pipeline systems in the vicinity, they discharged into the incorrect sewer line. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explained, the storm sewer at the location leads directly to Lincoln Creek, which is part of the larger watershed that flows into the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan.
In response to the incident, Veolia took immediate action by plugging and cleaning the impacted storm sewer, thus preventing any further discharge. In addition, the contractor has committed to a refresher training for its field crews to start on Monday, to avert future mistakes of this nature. According to a statement obtained by TMJ4 News, MMSD has introduced a verification and approval process requiring that staff confirm and obtain supervisor approval before decanting vacuum trucks.
MMSD reported the incident promptly to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, maintaining transparency regarding the error and its implications. Veolia's vice president, Jonathan Hoisak, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that there is no concern about overflow due to inadequate capacity in the district’s system or basement backups. Veolia and MMSD will continue to scrutinize the cause of the error to ensure proper waste disposal protocols are followed in the future.
The incident has initiated conversations on operational oversight and the importance of strictly adhering to environmental protocols, especially when the natural waterways and, by extension, the public's health could be at risk. The MMSD serves over 1 million people across 29 communities, emphasizing the gravity of efficient and error-free operations in water reclamation and flood management services.
