RAIN CHECK PRO IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD - A PILOT PROGRAM

MMSD's Rain Check Program

Reduce Water Problems Around Your Home & Neighborhood

The August 2025 storms and April 2026 flooding highlighted long-standing challenges in the Wahl Park and Old North Milwaukee neighborhoods. Many homeowners experienced basement flooding, wet yards, standing water, sewer backups, and street flooding.

To help address these challenges, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), in partnership with Clean Wisconsin, is launching the Rain Check Pro pilot program. This program will help homeowners identify and install solutions that help reduce the risk of wet basements, keep water away from homes, and capture rain where it falls so less water ends up flooding streets and neighboring properties.

Water in a yard

Interested homeowners can choose one or both of these FREE opportunities:

1. Comprehensive Home Solution 

A personalized property assessment to find out how rainwater and groundwater may be affecting your home. We'll identify potential problems, recommend solutions, and, as funding allows, MMSD will fund the improvements. Improvements may include replacing sewer pipes, disconnecting drains or downspouts, and installing features to capture rainwater and keep water away from your home.

2. Green Stormwater Solutions 

All interested homeowners in the project area are eligible for a FREE rain barrel, tree, or rain garden.

 

1. Comprehensive Home Solution Details

  • The first 20 properties that sign up for a Comprehensive Home Solution will receive:

    • A clear water assessment of your property that identifies sources of rainwater and groundwater (called "clear water") causing issues inside and outside your home, including a video of the sanitary sewer lateral to assess its condition and identify any issues.

    • A clear, customized report with recommendations on how to reduce clear water issues on your property. Recommendations may include replacing sewer pipes, disconnecting downspouts, improving grading around your home, installing gardens, or adding features that help capture and soak in rainwater.

    • Homeowners will choose which of the recommended improvements they would like installed on their property, and as funding allows, MMSD will fund the selected improvements.

    • An opportunity to provide feedback and help improve the program.

Additional interested homeowners will be placed on a waiting list for possible participation in 2027 as funding becomes available.

2. Green Stormwater Solution Details 

  • Get started with simple projects that help manage stormwater around your home:

    • Rain Barrel
    • Rain Garden *Supplies for rain gardens are limited and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

    • Tree

Homeowners receiving Green Stormwater Solutions in 2026 will be prioritized for Comprehensive Home Solutions in 2027, as funding allows. 

downspout install on a home
rain barrel install at a home
rain garden install at a home yard

Who Can Participate?

The 2026 pilot program is available to homeowners in portions of the Wahl Park and Old North Milwaukee neighborhoods, bounded by Hampton Avenue (north), 51st Street (west), Hopkins Street (east), and Congress Street (south).

What Happens Next?

  1.  If you are interested in this program, please fill out the form below.
  2. MMSD staff will contact you to discuss your property and program options.
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