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1. What is a combined sewer?

A combined sewer system is a waste water collections system which conveys both sanitary waste water and stormwater through a single pipe system to a treatment facility.

2. Where is Shorewood's combined sewer system?

The area approximately east of NorthOakland Avenue is served by a combined sewer system. Geographically, approximately 1/2 of the Village of Shorewood is served by a combined sewer system. North Oakland Avenue is the approximate line dividing the sewer service areas of the Village (see a map (PDF)).

3. How does a combined system deal with stormwater?

As illustrated above, a combined sewer system collects rainwater and sanitary waste in the same pipe conveying both to a plant for treatment. In most cases, areas served by combined sewer will not have separate storm sewer systems. The Village of Shorewood, however, does have a small stormwater system which overlays an area of the combined system north of East Capitol Drive. This modified system conveys stormwater collected through street drains to Lake Michigan for discharge.

4. What is a combined sewer overflow?

A combined sewer overflow (CSO) refers to a discharge of partially treated or untreated waste water prior to treatment. CSO's generally occur in response to wet-weather events.

Combined sewer overflows occur far less frequently than they did in the past. For information regarding improvements Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has made to the regional collection system in an attempt to reduce overflows, please access their resource.

5. Why disconnect downspouts?

Any amount of water removed from the system during wet-weather events helps. The disconnection of downspouts and the installation of rain barrels minimize the impact of rainwater on the combined sewer system. Learn more about using rain barrels and where to purchase them.

Read about Shorewood's recent successful partnership with Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to encourage residents to disconnect downspouts and install rain barrels and rain gardens.