Why is downspout disconnection important?
Older portions of the Village of Shorewood and the City of Milwaukee are served by combined sewers that carry both clear water and household waste water to the Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District's treatment facilities.
A significant source of clear water within the combined sewer system is from rain which falls on a roof and flows through a building's gutters and into downspouts which are connected to the combined sewer. During a rain event, this clear water can easily overwhelm the sewer system and lead to basement backups and sewage overflows directly into our neighboring waterways. Disconnecting downspouts that are directly connected to the sewer system can help reduce the risk of basement backups. Every drop counts!