Climate Change Data

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)

Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2011)

Reporting Period: 2011

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

  • Environmental
  • Social
  • Governance
  • Economic

Environmental Achievements

  • Invented Milorganite®, reusing biosolids as fertilizer over 85 years ago.
  • Captured methane gas from digesters to generate electricity at South Shore Water Reclamation Facility (SSWRF) since the mid-1970s.
  • Installed solar power at JIWRF.
  • Building a 19-mile landfill gas pipeline to utilize landfill gas.
  • Implemented Greenseams® land acquisition program, protecting almost 2,300 acres.
  • Implemented Stormwater best management practice (BMP) program.
  • Reduced overflows from 50-60 per year to 2-3 per year.

Social Achievements

  • Launched education and outreach programs to increase public awareness.
  • Implemented Small, Women and Minority Business Enterprise Program.
  • Launched Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program.
  • Launched Rain Barrel Program.
  • Launched Medicine Collection Day.
  • Implemented Regional Green Roofs Initiative.
  • Fresh Coast Jobs Initiative to provide job training for local workers.

Governance Achievements

  • MMSD Commission adoption of a formal sustainability policy statement in 2005.
  • Consideration of sustainability in the selection of capital project alternatives in 2008.
  • MMSD Commission adoption of a clear 2035 Vision Statement in 2011.
  • Adoption of LEED Standards for building procedures.

Climate Goals & Targets

Long-term Goals:
  • Achieve zero sanitary sewer overflows, zero combined sewer overflows, and zero basement backups.
  • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90 percent from 2000 baseline.
Medium-term Goals:
  • Achieve net energy neutrality by 2035.
  • Implement a comprehensive plan integrating green and grey infrastructure.
Short-term Goals:
  • Reduce energy consumption through aeration projects and lighting audits.

Environmental Challenges

  • Aging sewer systems leading to inflow/infiltration.
  • Increasingly severe storms due to climate change.
  • Public unawareness of impact on water quality.
  • Nutrient pollution from stormwater runoff.
  • Dependence on fossil fuels for energy.
  • Managing phosphorus as a finite resource.
Mitigation Strategies
  • Implementing green infrastructure to manage stormwater.
  • Rehabilitating municipal and private sanitary systems.
  • Maximizing system capacity through new facilities/technologies.
  • Public education and outreach programs.
  • Energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives.
  • Watershed-based approach to nutrient management.
  • Exploring alternative uses for biosolids and FOG.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement
  • Sustainable purchasing policies
  • Local Office Preference policy

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks
  • Increased storm intensity
  • Changes in precipitation patterns
Transition Risks
  • Increased energy costs
  • Regulatory changes
Opportunities
  • Green infrastructure development
  • Renewable energy generation

Sustainable Products & Innovation

  • Milorganite®

Awards & Recognition

  • Global Compact City (for water) by the United Nations
  • Leadership Award from the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative