View of Lake Michigan and Milwaukee's skyline at sunset in the rain

Milwaukee Rain & Facility Information

When heavy rain threatens the Milwaukee area, stormwater increases the water sent to the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) water reclamation facilities. 

When too much rain gets into the sanitary sewer system, our highest priorities are preventing sewage from backing up into your basement and protecting the environment. 

MMSD Rain Gauge Data

updated info(Data updated Nov 14, 2024, 10:35 PM )

Select a rainfall date range reset range

How to create a custom rainfall report

Want to see how much rain we've had in the last two or three weeks?

  • Click on the date range box and the calendar will appear.
  • Click on a start date, then an end date, select apply.
  • Look for your custom report on the map above.
  • Check out the list of MMSD Rain Gauge locations and data export.

MILWAUKEE RAIN RESOURCES

MILWAUKEE WEATHER

MILWAUKEE WEATHER

WATER DROP ALERT

Get helpful text alerts during heavy rainfalls to use less water to help reduce sewer overflows in your area.

MMSD Water Drop Alert

Text: WATERDROP to 414-296-4422 for Española texto GOTADEAGUA a 414-296-4422

Receive Water Drop Alert text messages when heavy rain threatens the area. When a Water Drop Alert has been issued, a reminder is sent to use less water.

What do you do when an alert is issued?

  • Hold off on washing dishes and laundry
  • Take a shorter shower 
  • Empty your rain barrel

MMSD has captured and cleaned 98.6% of all the stormwater and wastewater entering the regional sewer system since 1994. Before the Deep Tunnels, our region polluted our waterways with 50-60 sewer overflows yearly, and now we average two.

MMSD DEEP TUNNELS

The MMSD Deep Tunnels have prevented more than 151.4 billion gallons of pollution from getting into Lake Michigan. Thanks to the deep tunnels and many other improvements, MMSD has captured and cleaned 98.6% of all the water and wastewater that's entered the regional sewer system since 1994.

DEEP TUNNEL

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CURRENT STORAGE
28 million gallons

MAX CAPACITY
432 million gallons

As of 11/14/24, 10:40 PM

NORTHWEST SIDE DEEP TUNNEL

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CURRENT STORAGE
0 million gallons

MAX CAPACITY
89 million gallons

As of 11/14/24, 10:40 PM

WATER RECLAMATION FACILITIES

MMSD runs two water reclamation facilities, Jones Island and South Shore, that clean residential and industrial wastewater for 29 communities with approximately 1.1 million people in the Milwaukee area.

SOUTH SHORE WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY

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CURRENTLY TREATING
42 million gallons / day

MAX CAPACITY
300 million gallons / day

As of 11/14/24, 10:40 PM

JONES ISLAND WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY

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CURRENTLY TREATING
120 million gallons / day

MAX CAPACITY
330 million gallons / day

As of 11/14/24, 10:40 PM

Greater Milwaukee Water Cleaned & Captured

MMSD is committed to protecting our community and the environment for a healthier, cleaner, and more resilient region. MMSD has captured and cleaned 98.6%
of all the water that's entered the regional sewer system since 1994. Learn how MMSD's water reclamation facilities clean our water.
 

2024 MMSD VOLUME TREATED

Gallons Treated: 66,414,000,000

Gallons Overflowed: 357,000,000

Total Gallons: 66,771,000,000

MMSD % Treated: 99.47%

Wastewater Requirements (cleaned & captured)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
85% Water cleaned & captured

MMSD's status since 1994
98.6% Water cleaned & captured

This page is automatically updated. The data have not been verified and may contain errors. As data are verified, MMSD reserves the right to make corrections to values as necessary. MMSD is providing this data as is and the user assumes the entire risk of use of this data.

WET WEATHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES
 

a flooded basement

Reporting a Wet Basement


Please call your municipal public works department to report water in your basement, and fill out our Reporting a Wet Basement form. A copy of the form will be shared with your municipality. 

To learn more about what could be causing the water, visit our Water in My Basement page.

Keep My Basement Dry MMSD

How to Manage Water On Your Property


Managing water on your property can significantly reduce your chances of having a wet basement. 

Learn about your basement's laterals, foundation drains, and other issues that could be causing your basement to flood.