A microtunnel power cutting head tunnels under a crossing of the Military Ridge State trail in Verona. Moles, to the general population, show their presence from time to time by turning landscaped areas of vegetation into a ski mogul course. Anyone who has had this happen to them knows the head-dropping chore it is to reshape these landscaping areas. There are benefits from a mole creating underground tunnels; it mixes soil nutrients, aerates the soil, and promotes additional drainage, but we’re not going down that path. Today. the focus is on one of the many processes to install underground p ..read more

As long as we’ve had wastewater treatment technology in the Madison-area, we’ve needed effective ways to handle, treat and dispose of biosolids and sludge. When both the Burke Wastewater Treatment Plant (1914) and the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant (1928) were built, solids in the wastewater were separated by gravity. At the Burke Plant, this occurred in a fairly complicated design in which settled solids from sludge separators flowed by gravity into sludge digesters. At the Nine Springs Plant, Imhoff Tanks were used for biosolids separation. These tanks had a slot in the mid-level of ..read more

Looking for a unique field trip idea? Seeking an out-of-the-box local adventure? Consider taking an educational journey through the invisible workings of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)! Plant tours offer a unique, immersive opportunity to learn about environmental science and sustainability. From uncovering the processes that purify water to understanding the crucial role water reclamation facilities (WRF) play in preserving our ecosystems, a wastewater treatment plant tour will foster a deeper appreciation for our planet’s resources. Here are a few Wisconsin destinations to consider tour ..read more

Around noon on Thursday, March 7, 2024, we were notified of a Sanitary Sewer Overflow from a manhole in the area of University Avenue and Baker Avenue in Madison. The overflow is related to planned maintenance of a valve.  District emergency responders have been deployed to the area and are working to address the situation and resolve issues as soon as possible. If you see flowing water or sewage in stormwater drainage channels, please do not drink or swim in the water. If you are experiencing wastewater in your basement, please contact using the following form. We will be in contact with ..read more

Diversity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is essential for driving innovation and promoting social progress. The number of women and other marginalized genders in STEM fields has grown in recent years, but men remain predominant in STEM fields. The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics website offered a few interesting facts about the STEM workforce, derived from recent Census data. Men and women represent similar proportions of the overall workforce – 52% men and 48% women However, men still far outnumber women in STEM careers – as of 2 ..read more

Paving the way for a greener Dane County isn’t always straightforward, but programs like the Efficiency Navigator are working to make it easier. Thanks to support from a District Chloride Reduction Innovation Grant, Sustain Dane’s Efficiency Navigator program is working to help reduce reliance on energy and water, as well as reduce the amount of chloride reaching the region’s surface waters for low- to moderate-income multi-family rental properties. Transforming local affordable housing The Efficiency Navigator program helps qualified small to medium-sized multi-family housing become more effi ..read more

Former lab manager Greg Zelinka and his patented invention, the BOD Auto EZ, an instrument to measure biochemical oxygen demand. One of the District’s most interesting employees was Greg Zelinka. Greg began his 33-year career in 1970 as a chemist in the laboratory. Greg had a keen sense of curiosity and was always looking for ways to improve any area of the District. He was not satisfied to just perform the standard lab tests. Developing ways to automate processes to save time and money was a love of Greg’s. Read how he became the District’s inventor extraordinaire, particularly for his patent ..read more

The Pumping Station 17 Force Main Relief Phase 2 Project starts construction in winter 23/24 in the City of Verona and the Town of Verona. This project addresses the limited long-term capacity of the existing Pumping Station 17 force main, as the upstream service area has become one of the fastest growing in the state. Rapid growth requires EngineerEd solutions The current Pumping Station 17 (PS 17) force main was constructed in 1996. Since then, the service area upstream of PS 17, which includes the City of Verona, Town of Verona, Town of Middleton and City of Madison, has experienced rapid g ..read more

Work on the Northeast Interceptor in 1937. It took over three years from the formation of the District until control of the City of Madison’s intercepting systems and treatment plants were transferred to the District. Although the November 1929 petition requesting that a metropolitan sewerage district be formed in the Madison area stated that the City of Madison’s treatment plants and interceptor sewer system would be transferred to the District at the time it was formed, that did not happen. The City of Madison continued to operate the Burke and Nine Springs treatment plants during the early ..read more

The post Signal in the sewer: How wastewater helps scientists detect early increases in COVID-19, the flu and more appeared first on Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District ..read more