DOORS OPEN MILWAUKEE 2019 - TOUR JONES ISLAND WATER RECLAMATION PLANT

Mark Your Calendar For, Saturday, September 28, 2019, Doors Open Tours of Jones Island  

 

Visitors will learn about the history of Jones Island, MMSD programs, the making of Milorganite® fertilizer, and Veolia North America, a global environmental services company. Kids won't want to miss the “workhorses of wastewater," collecting a set of "bug" cards, and getting up close and personal with the big trucks!  

All site visitors will receive a free five-pound bag of Milorganite® slow-release fertilizer, while supplies last.

Tour Information:  

Time: 10 AM- 5 PM (last tour at 4:30 PM), first come first serve for tours. Closed Sunday. 

Location: 700 E. Jones Street, Milwaukee, WI  53207

Tickets:  Are NOT required or preregistration.

Duration: Plan an hour or more to fully take advantage of tours, exhibits and children’s activities.

Tour Options:

1) Motorcoach Tour of the Campus. Participants will travel by bus around the Jones Island facility to learn about the water reclamation process and how Milorganite is made. 

2)  Walking Hard Hat Tour of the Milorganite Facility. Participants are required to wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, and be able to descend 75 steps on their own.  Hard hats and safety glasses will be provided. Children must also meet the safety attire guidelines, be able to walk and climb stairs without assistance, and fit into a conventional hard hat and safety glasses without either falling off of their head. No exceptions.   

Notes:

• The campus is not handicapped accessible and the hard hat tour is not ideal for individuals with sensitivity to noise. 
• Photography and filming are permitted.

Jones Island History:

Opened in 1926, this facility was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1974. World-renowned for pioneering the way in modern wastewater treatment technology, Jones Island was also one of the first facilities in the world to produce fertilizer as the by-product of the water reclamation process: Milorganite®.  Capable of treating more than 300 million gallons a day, the facility is owned and governed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and operated and maintained by Veolia Water Milwaukee. 

Learn How You Can Help Protect Lake Michigan:

Downspout Disconnection

Every downspout on your home can send 12 gallons of water a minute to the sewer system, which increases the risk of basement backups and sewer overflows. Disconnect and help keep excess water out of sanitary sewers.

Sign Up For Water Drop Alerts

Text: WATERDROP to 797979

Get alerted when to use less water in your home during weather events to help prevent basement backups and sewer overflows.

Home Hazmat Collection

Make sure whatever comes out of our homes stays out of the water. Find out what items you can drop off at our three year-round drop-off sites, and the next mobile site is State Fair Park - October 11th and 12th, 2019.