Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District

08/18/2026

An important task that our Facilities Maintenance team takes on each year is cleaning and replacing the diffuser stones in the aeration tanks.

These stones are located at the bottom of the ~20 foot deep tanks, pumping air in and fueling the microbes that break down organic material and remove nutrients.

08/15/2026

Didja Know?! An entire network of underground pipes runs through our community, moving wastewater away from homes, schools, and businesses. From small pipes as round as a coffee cup to pipes taller than most people, they all have a job to do...

Learn more in this week's episode of Didja Know While You Go, or head over to the Madison Public Market and see for yourself!

Nature is calling, and so is knowledge!

Follow along for more Didja Know episodes!

08/13/2026

These ducks must have the WI State Fair on their mind 🎢🦆

The skimmer arm (aka Duck carousel) moves slowly across the top of the final clarifiers, gathering solids and debris, like the duckweed you see here, while the clear water flows over the weirs and continues on its journey.

Curious how it all works? Check out our virtual tour: https://link.madsewer.org/virtual-tour

08/11/2026

We recently had the opportunity to host participants from La Follette School of Public Affairs: UW-Madisons' 2026 Environmental Politics & Governance Conference at the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant for a tour. This year marked the first time the conference was hosted in Madison, and we were honored to share a local wastewater utility's perspective during the tour and presentation.

The tour gave attendees a firsthand look at the day-to-day work of environmental infrastructure: how water and wastewater treatment operations translate policy into practice, and how decisions made in classrooms and legislatures ultimately shape what happens on the ground and in our communities.

It was a great opportunity to connect our technical and operational work with the policy and governance conversations happening at the conference — from emerging environmental regulations to the real-world challenges of implementation, funding, and sustainability.

Thank you to the La Follette School for including us, and to everyone who joined the tour. We're always glad to open our doors and show the vital, often unseen infrastructure that keeps our communities healthy and our environment protected.

50 leading environmental social scientists from around the world converged on Madison this summer for the 2026 Environmental Politics & Governance Conference hosted by La Follette’s Manny Teodoro. The conference, which took place June 29 …

08/06/2026

District staff were honored to attend the 2026 Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association WWEMA Finance & Contract Administration and BABA (Build America, Buy America) Workshop and bring a utility's perspective to the conversation. We appreciate the opportunity to share our experiences, connect with others and learn alongside industry peers.

Eric Dundee, Executive Director, delivered a keynote address, providing a utility leader's perspective on aging wastewater assets, mounting capital projects, and the challenges BABA requirements add to an already complex landscape. He highlighted the importance of public utilities and manufacturers working together to avoid delays and get the needed equipment.

Our Engineering Manager, Lisa Coleman, served as a panelist for a BABA Workshop, representing the American Public Works Association and the District. Lisa shared real-world lessons from the District's first BABA-compliant project.

Thank you to WWEMA for the opportunity, and congratulations to Eric and Lisa for representing us so well!

08/04/2026

Didja Know?! There are miles and miles of underground pipes that carry your used water to the wastewater treatment plant. From the lateral leaving your home or business, to the local municipal sewer pipe, to the District's regional interceptors and force mains, wastewater travels from all across our customer communities to our Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Find out just how many miles of pipes are owned and operated by the District in this episode of Didja Know While You Go and get a sneak peek at the Learning Lavatories at Madison Public Market!

Nature is calling, and so is knowledge — follow for more Didja Know episodes!

08/03/2026

This summer, we've welcomed an incredible mix of visitors to the District for tours, from international policy professionals to kindergarteners just mastering potty training. Every group brings new questions and great perspectives. We appreciate these opportunities to connect, share, and learn.

Last week, we hosted a tour for attendees from the Conference on Chemical Education (2026 BCCE) — the largest gathering of chemistry educators in the world, with 2,000+ attendees from across the globe, held this year at UW–Madison.

Catherine Harris, Pollution Prevention Specialist at the District, even got to co-present on building successful, reciprocal Chemistry-Community partnerships alongside Peter Jaeger, UW Chemistry's Outreach Program Manager. It was a great opportunity to connect science education to real-world water issues that affect every community with a wastewater treatment plant. UW-Madison Department of Chemistry

Tours like this remind us of why community connection matters. Curious what happens behind the scenes at your local WWTP? Reach out — we'd love to show you around. 💧

07/31/2026

Grease balls like these seen rolling around in our primary influent channels are formed by fats, oils and grease, or FOG, that end up down the drain.

FOG causes serious problems if it goes down the drain, leading to clogs in pipes at home or in sewers. Clogs cause sewer backups and overflows, and buildup requires extra, costly maintenance to remove so the system can keep running. As FOG travels through the collection system, it also tends to form large clumps in pumping stations and at the treatment plant, which can lead to clogs in pumps and tanks.

07/30/2026

Today, we want to celebrate our 2026 interns and summer assistants, who are an important part of the team here at the District. They've brought fresh energy, sharp questions, great perspectives and are making real contributions to work that keeps our community and environment healthy. Today, we celebrate them and say thank you!

Collecting, treating and returning clean water requires professionals of all types, performing jobs that are essential to thriving local communities. Here at the District, that means engineers, chemists, operators, maintenance technicians, IT specialists, outreach coordinators, and so many more, all bringing a deep commitment to protecting public health and the environment. Our interns get to experience that firsthand and we're better for having them on our team.

Swipe through to meet our 2026 interns and assistants👉

Here's to the next generation of water sector professionals! 🌊

07/27/2026

Didja Know?! How many million gallons of wastewater does the greater Madison area create every single day?

Check out this episode of Didja Know While You Go for the answer and a sneak peek at the Learning Lavatories at Madison Public Market!

Nature is calling, and so is knowledge — follow for more Didja Know episodes! 🚽📚