Report Pollution
Report Pollution to MRK
If You See It, Let Us Know ASAP!
Because the Milwaukee River Basin is over 900 square miles and covers 7 counties, we rely on our communities to help signal when water pollution is present so we can investigate. While we have regular patrol, we can’t be everywhere all the time, which is why we need you!
Signs of Water Pollution
While all types of water pollution aren’t always visible, there are many signs that you should look out for including:
Visible Plumes in Water
Oil Sheen
Construction Debris
Erosion
Oversalting
In-river Hazards
Pollution Dumping
What Happens After You Report Pollution?
Whenever pollution is reported, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Cheryl Nenn, jumps into action to identify the source of the issue. While the solution is always different, Cheryl works with property owners, authorities, and municipalities to address the issue.
By creating this direct reporting line to the community, we can identify issues early and gather resources to push for policies and regulations that help ensure fair treatment and equitable environmental protections for all communities, particularly those historically burdened by pollution and environmental degradation.
Why Does Reporting Pollution Matter?
Pollution is always a sign of something larger and sharing any details you can about what you see helps our team to better address the issues. But our response to your concerns doesn’t end with just reading your report. The trends in issues reported also guide our advocacy efforts. Your report of pollution adds to an important, ongoing dialogue between Milwaukee Riverkeeper, community members, regulatory agencies, community partners, and on and on.
When there isn’t a simple resolution, we turn our sights to regulatory and legislative change, writing comments and publicly sharing concerns on behalf of the community.
