Achieving Results Together
Greenprint Report
Consultant Greenprint Partners produced a report analyzing Grasslyn Manor’s stormwater management challenges and itemizing solutions — the result of many hours dedicated by neighbors who attended meetings, shared stories and data, and kept showing up to demand shared solutions.
The Chicago-based consultancy worked with Grasslyn Manor neighbors in 2023 and 2024 to identify flooding challenges and suggest potential solutions.
One output of that effort is a report.
Another output is a handbook for neighbors.
Refrigerator magnets are also expected.
In the future, Greenprint looks to contract as a consultant with City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works to help increase residential participation in the Private Property Inflow and Infiltration project for the neighborhood.
Greenprint also has performed other green infrastructure project contracts for MMSD through its Fresh Coast Green Communities program.
City Commitment
The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works has committed to prioritizing Grasslyn Manor for sewer work — following years of persistent neighbor activism.
In December 2024, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed a resolution sponsored by 7th District Alderman DiAndre Jackson directing the City of Milwaukee to fund a Private Property Inflow and Infiltration project to be reimbursed through a grant from Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.
The project is expected to cost up to $329,000. The project’s boundaries are N. 53rd St. to N. 60th St. and W. Vienna Ave. to W. Capitol Dr.
Details are yet to be made public, but Inflow & Infiltration work (also known as “I and I” or I/I for short) typically involves inspecting residential sewer laterals for cracks or cross-connections that may allow water to enter sewer pipes in unintended ways. (This table in MMSD’s Appendix A describes work that is eligible for reimbursement.)
Inflow and infiltration can increase the risk of water backing up into basements, so this work is intended to identify and remove any sources of water entering sewer pipes inappropriately.
In some cases, this may involve “televising” sewer pipes by sending cameras inside to scope out leaks. It may also involve “smoke testing” or “dye testing” by adding dye or smoke to pipes to suss out any cross-connections between the storm sewer and sanitary sewer pipes. It may also involve adding sump pumps to disconnect foundation drains from the sanitary sewer system.
The Grasslyn Manor neighborhood is in the separated sewer area, which means storm sewer and sanitary sewer pipes are intended to convey water to separate outflows. Sanitary pipes carry what you flush down drains and the toilet to the wastewater treatment plant, while storm sewer pipes carry water from streets and alleys untreated into Lincoln Creek.
Making sure any efforts to keep basements dry in one area are not causing wet basements in another area of the neighborhood is important — and it appears this work is a step in keeping neighbor basements dry.
WaterMarker
Albright United Methodist Church at Capitol Drive and 56th Street is envisioned for a new WaterMarker — to celebrate years of neighbor engagement.
In March 2025, neighbors gathered for a workshop to select a letter to represent their relationship with water and provided input on a public art project to be created by Debbie Sajnani.
This letter references keywords that are important to the neighbors “Building the Ark” and will stand atop a 30-foot pole.
Very visible to passersby along W. Capitol Drive, it is intended as a symbol of resilience in the face of long-standing basement flooding challenges as well as a symbol of hope associated with Albright United Methodist Church.
It joins other WaterMarkers across the city — all blue, all pulse when heavy rain is expected, and all offer public WiFi that shares the MMSD Water Drop Alert and links to neighbor stories and ways you can take action on behalf our water and community.
Another WaterMarker is expected for another part of the Sherman Park meta-neighborhood as part of this initiative, but Grasslyn Manor’s will be the first in Sherman Park — due in no small part to years of persistent neighbor activism and an impressive level of community organizing.