More work needs to be done to continue to prevent flooding, Milwaukee's sewerage district says

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Will we see issues with flooding like Chicago faced over the weekend when we face severe weather?

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District officials say a lot of work has been done to naturalize canals in the Kinnickinnic watershed and elsewhere to better manage floodwater.

They say this is important to protect homes and businesses, and it's work that they'll need to continue to do, as sections of the canal are still 1960s cement designs that are no longer considered adequate.

"We're at Pulaski Park, we completed a major flood management project here couple years ago, and it looks fantastic now," said Bill Graffin, MMSD public information manager.

Graffin says in their service area, there are 28 communities, and for every one inch of rain across that area, 7.1 billion gallons of water enter the waterways in the area.

Graffin says their system is designed to handle it, but that doesn't mean the Milwaukee area is immune to flooding like what happened in Chicago.

"When you get an inch or two of rain in 12 to 24 hours, it's typically not a problem. It's when you get two inches of rain in 20 minutes," explained Graffin.

He says while a lot of work has been done, there are still things that need to be done to prevent flooding events from causing harm, like the 10-year-old boy who drowned after falling into floodwater in a channel near 27th and Loomis in June of 2022.

"The concrete-lined channels that were put in in the 60s, that was the latest and greatest technology that they had at the time, and we know now that it's not a good idea and they're dangerous," said Graffin. "We saw that last year with the loss of life."

That's why they're converting those channels into spaces that he says move water more slowly, can hold more water, and are also better for wildlife.

They have plans to redevelop more waterways like this over the next 10 years, which he says could cost over $400 million, a cost that is rising.

Graffin says information shows the number of homes at risk has risen.

"The new rainfall data is showing that 660 homes are in harm's way of flooding," said Graffin.

He says it's more important than ever to address the problem together.

"We also need help from everybody. There are things you can do at home, and at school, and church, at work, to help manage water where it falls."

If you're interested in learning more about what you can do, click here.