MILWAUKEE, Wis. – A former Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District employee alleges the organization’s operator knowingly reduces wastewater treatment capacity during rainstorms, leading to more untreated water being dumped into Lake Michigan and surrounding waters than necessary.
The employee, identified as Steve Jacquart, is now working with Milwaukee-area community advocacy group Common Ground in demanding MMSD independently investigate that operator, Veolia, before extending its contract.
“I’m here tonight because I strongly believe that taxpayers have a right to know about any actions that threaten public health and the environment,” said Jacquart April 30 during an event unveiling the investigation’s findings at the War Memorial Center in Milwaukee.
Jacquart’s time with MMSD includes around 19 years as the Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator. Before that, he served under former Milwaukee Mayor John Norquist as his Chief of Staff and Policy Director and as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of City Development.
Jacquart first reached out to Common Ground anonymously in 2023 alleging that Veolia was not running the Jones Island and South Shore Water Reclamation Facilities at capacity during rainstorms.
Veolia previously denied to WTMJ any mismanagement at either the Jones Island or South Shore facilities.
Federal EPA enforcement and compliance records don’t show violations at either facility detected by compliance officials dating back to as recently as 2021....
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