Oklahoma Avenue Sewer Capacity Improvements

Project Overview

The Oklahoma Avenue MIS Capacity Improvements Project will reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), sewer surcharges, and basement backups due to the limited capacity of MMSD’s existing sanitary sewer system in this area. This section of the sanitary sewer system serves 660 acres of MMSD’s service area in the City of Milwaukee and West Allis. The area has a history of sewer overflows and basement backups. Overflows occurred in 2008, 2009, and 2020.  

A 2021 study evaluated active SSO sites and determined the improvements needed to eliminate SSOs while also reducing risks of impacts to the local sewer system. The study concluded that increased capacity of the sanitary sewer system in this area would reduce both the risk of SSOs and basement backups. The study also found that with increased capacity, the pump station that pumps sanitary overflow to Honey Creek could be removed.

To improve the capacity of the system, MMSD will replace the existing 21-inch pipe, which was built in 1953, with nearly 3,300 linear feet of new 48-inch pipe. Construction for this phase will use a micro-tunneling boring machine. Additional work will be completed to connect existing local sewers to the new 48-inch sewer.

Project Map

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