Milwaukee River: Ready for an Olympic Challenge?

07/30/24 05:30:pm

Blue Notes graphic from MMSD's Executive Director Kevin Shafter

I was driving into work today and heard on the radio that the Summer Olympics in Paris had postponed the triathlon due to elevated bacteria levels in the Seine River. It made me ask the question, “If Milwaukee hosted the Olympics, would we have the same issue with the Milwaukee River? I went to the experts, my staff and asked them.

The water quality standard for swimming is based on levels of E. coli in the water. E. coli is a type of bacteria that is commonly used as an indicator of fecal contamination in waterways. If high levels of E. coli are found in the water there is a higher likelihood that pathogens are present that could cause illness in humans.

MMSD has a water quality monitoring program that routinely measures bacteria in the rivers, creeks, and Lake Michigan. The most recent sample taken from the Milwaukee River on 7/1 had E. coli levels at 250 CFU/100mL. According to European standards, the Seine River is declared swimmable if E. coli levels are below 900 CFU/100mL. Therefore, an Olympic triathlon would not be canceled if held in Milwaukee.

While this is great news, we must continue to have to take steps to protect our waterways. Thank you to our deep tunnel system, water reclamation facilities, flood management facilities, water quality, green infrastructure, and to everyone for helping manage water where it falls!

Kevin L. Shafer, P.E.
Executive Director - Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

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August is National Water Quality Month! Be sure to help manage water where it falls on your property to help protect our waters.