When Heavy Rains Turn Your Neighborhood Into a Sewage Nightmare: Understanding Greendale’s Combined Sewer Crisis

Greendale, Wisconsin residents know the feeling all too well: dark clouds gathering overhead, rain beginning to fall, and the growing anxiety about what might happen in their basements. The storm water and these pollutants then flow into the Village’s storm sewer system and ultimately into the Root River, but when heavy rainfall overwhelms the system, the consequences can be devastating for homeowners.

The Hidden Vulnerability of Combined Sewer Systems

Combined sewer systems are stormwater and wastewater conveyances that carry domestic sewage, stormwater runoff, and sometimes even industrial waste in one pipe. While this design made economic sense when installed in the late 1800s, it creates a perfect storm for modern homeowners during heavy rainfall events.

The carrying capacity of combined sewer systems is too often exceeded during periods of rainfall or snowmelt, causing a combined sewer overflow at relief points throughout these systems. When this happens, raw sewage flows out of input sources such as toilets, causing inhabited buildings to be flooded with a toxic sewage-runoff mixture.

Why Greendale Faces Unique Challenges

Greendale’s location within the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area puts it at particular risk. A combined sewer is one pipe that collects sanitary flows from homes and businesses and stormwater from streets. The only combined sewers in this region are owned by the City of Milwaukee and the Village of Shorewood, but the interconnected nature of the regional sewer system means that heavy rainfall anywhere in the area can impact neighboring communities.

Communities in Pennsylvania have been making upgrades to improve and repair their combined sewer systems over time, but the capacity of every drainage network and wastewater treatment plant is often exceeded because of the historic increase in impervious surfaces and larger and more frequent storms that cause an increased volume of stormwater runoff. This same challenge affects Wisconsin communities like Greendale.

The Real-World Impact on Homeowners

When combined sewer systems become overwhelmed, the results can be catastrophic for residential properties. The CSO outfalls to the waterway act as relief points for the excess flow in the sewers, thereby reducing the frequency and severity of sewer backups and flooding, but this doesn’t always prevent basement backups entirely.

Combined sewage and stormwater can also back up into basements and surcharge up through manholes when the pipes are overwhelmed, causing public health issues. The contaminated water that enters homes contains not just stormwater, but also raw sewage, creating serious health hazards and requiring immediate professional intervention.

When Disaster Strikes: The Importance of Professional Response

Sewage backup emergencies require immediate professional attention. Sewage cleanup requires specialized equipment, protective gear, and proper sanitization methods to ensure safety and prevent long-term contamination. Leave it to trained professionals like ERS. The health risks associated with sewage exposure make DIY cleanup extremely dangerous.

For Greendale residents facing these emergencies, professional Sewage Damage Cleanup Greendale, Wi services provide the expertise and equipment necessary to safely restore properties. We pride ourselves on our rapid response time, which is typically under 60 minutes for emergency calls. Our 24/7 availability ensures that we’re there when you need us most. Prompt action is crucial in minimizing damage, so you can count on us to arrive quickly and begin the restoration process.

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Area’s Ongoing Battle

The greater Milwaukee area has invested billions in infrastructure improvements to address these challenges. Thanks to the Deep Tunnels and many other improvements, we average 2.2 overflows per year (down from 50-60) and have captured and cleaned 98.4% of the water that has entered the regional sewer system since 1994. As a region, we’ve invested more than $4 billion to reduce sewer overflows.

However, increasing numbers of high volume rainstorms in the years since the system was designed have resulted in an almost annual pattern of overflow discharges of untreated water into Lake Michigan, demonstrating that even significant infrastructure investments cannot completely eliminate the risk of sewage backups in residential areas.

Prevention and Preparation

While homeowners cannot control the weather or municipal infrastructure, they can take steps to minimize damage when sewage backups occur. If you have issues with a sewer back up in your basement call the Water and Sewer Department at 423-2135 or the Village Hall at 423-2100 during normal business hours of 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. After hours please contact the Greendale Police Department at 423-2121.

However, municipal response focuses on system-wide issues, not individual property restoration. Professional restoration companies fill this critical gap, providing comprehensive cleanup services that include immediate water extraction, removal of contaminated materials, thorough cleaning and sanitization, odor removal, drying and dehumidification, and full restoration.

The Future of Sewage Management

Communities employ a variety of creative approaches such as retrofitting stormwater basins, disconnecting impervious surfaces, and improving infiltration of stormwater with green infrastructure. In many areas, low-impact development design, which increases the amount of stormwater that soaks into the ground, is being used to limit runoff from new development.

For Greendale residents, understanding the risks associated with combined sewer systems during heavy rainfall is crucial for protecting their properties and health. While municipal improvements continue, the reality is that sewage backup emergencies will continue to occur, making professional cleanup services an essential resource for affected homeowners.

When sewage emergencies strike, every minute counts in preventing long-term damage and health hazards. Professional restoration services provide the expertise, equipment, and rapid response necessary to safely restore homes and protect families from the serious consequences of sewage contamination.