Freshwater Resources Monitoring
Surace Water Quality Summary Report 2021
Introduction
The Freshwater Resources Monitoring group conducts routine surface water monitoring at nearly 100 fixed monitoring sites within the MMSD Planning Area. Field measurements and grab samples are taken 1-2 times per month at these sites and brought to the in-house certified laboratory for analysis. Up to 40 different parameters are sampled at each site, totaling over 50,000 data points each year.
This program is called the Regulatory Monitoring (RM) program for the purposes of this report.
Click on the sites on the map to view site pictures.
2021 In Review
To summarize the large amount of data collected each year, the Freshwater Resources Monitoring group produces an annual report, focusing on a specific subset of parameters and/or sites. This year’s report focuses on the percent of results complying with surface water quality criteria for chloride, dissolved oxygen (DO), Escherichia coli (E. coli), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS).
Click on the watersheds on the map to view the results.
The tables show the percent of samples meeting surface water quality criteria for all sites in 2021. For parameters that can be compared across years, mean percent compliance across all sites in 2021 was the same as in 2020 except TSS, which had 2% greater compliance in 2021. This is very similar to 2018 and 2019 as well.
Notes:
MMSD is not responsible for ensuring that surface water meets water quality standards. MMSD’s Jones Island and South Shore WRFs’ effluent discharges to the Harbor and nearshore of Lake Michigan. Different than surface water quality criteria listed in the WI Administrative Code, the water quality-based limits for effluent are established in MMSD’s Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. When possible, Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM) guidance and criteria found in WI Administrative Code Chapters NR 102 (E. coli 1 , DO 2 , TP 3 ) and 105 4 (chloride), and the Milwaukee River Basin Total Maximum Daily Load 5 (TSS) were used.
1 Wis. Admin. Code § NR 102.04 (May 2020) The E. coli standard is based on a geometric mean of five or more samples per 90-day window, but, for the purposes of this report, the criterion is used as a benchmark for water quality.
2 Wis. Admin. Code § NR 102.04 (May 2020).
3 Wis. Admin. Code § NR 102.06 (May 2020).
4 Wis. Admin. Code § NR 105.06 (July 2010).
5 CDM Smith. 2018. Total Maximum Daily Loads for Total Phosphorus, Total Suspended Solids, and Fecal Coliform Milwaukee River Basin, Wisconsin. Final Report. USEPA Region 5, March 19, 2018. 147 p.
Two Programs, Two Stories
To build a comprehensive assessment of the water quality in the local streams and Lake Michigan, MMSD has two separate monitoring programs. These two programs are a collaborative effort that use resources from multiple departments to provide a robust data set providing differing and complementary benefits. Both programs utilize sondes- scientific instruments which use a suite of sensors to instantaneously measure water quality parameters.
Continuous Water Quality Monitoring (CWQM) Program
- Sondes are deployed at 10 locations to take water quality measurements continuously. Hourly measurements are taken 24/7, 365 (a subset of locations are removed in the winter).
- This program provides high frequency temporal data, but the parameters are limited to commercially available sensors that may not be the pollutants that are required to be measured.
- CWQM is generally expensive due to the need for a large inventory of equipment which is vulnerable to damage from nature and vandalism.
Regulatory Water Quality Monitoring (RM) Program
- Crews are deployed 1-2 times per month to nearly 100 sites year-round. Field measurements are taken simultaneously with water samples so that 40 different parameters are collected.
- This program provides highly accurate data for many parameters covering a large geographic area. However, short-term fluctuations in the waterways are missed.
Sonde with various sensors attached.
The Comparison
Two Continuous Monitoring sites that are co-located with Regulatory Monitoring sites were selected for further exploration. These two sites had very different data sets for 2021 due to weather, equipment malfunctions, and site conditions.
is located in deep water in the estuary, downstream of the Kinnickinnic River. This site is known for having an extremely flashy flow regime and carries large amounts of debris. Both the Regulatory program and Continuous Monitoring program are able conduct year-round sampling at this site. This site did not suffer from many equipment malfunctions in 2021 and has a relatively complete data set for the year.
is on the Menomonee River, just downstream of the confluence with Honey Creek in Wauwatosa. This site is much shallower and has increased stream velocity. Continuous water quality monitoring equipment must be removed from this site during the winter. This site suffered from several equipment malfunctions during 2021 resulting in data loss.
The red and black circles on these graphs represent data associated with the Regulatory Monitoring Program. Additionally, the red circles are clickable to view more information about the data point. The blue data come from the Continuous Monitoring Program.
The red and black circles on these graphs represent data associated with the Regulatory Monitoring Program. Additionally, the red circles are clickable to view more information about the data point. The blue data come from the Continuous Monitoring Program.
The red and black circles on these graphs represent data associated with the Regulatory Monitoring Program. Additionally, the red circles are clickable to view more information about the data point. The blue data come from the Continuous Monitoring Program.
The red and black circles on these graphs represent data associated with the Regulatory Monitoring Program. Additionally, the red circles are clickable to view more information about the data point. The blue data come from the Continuous Monitoring Program.
The red and black circles on these graphs represent data associated with the Regulatory Monitoring Program. Additionally, the red circles are clickable to view more information about the data point. The blue data come from the Continuous Monitoring Program.
The red and black circles on these graphs represent data associated with the Regulatory Monitoring Program. Additionally, the red circles are clickable to view more information about the data point. The blue data come from the Continuous Monitoring Program.
Requesting Data
MMSD has been monitoring the Milwaukee area waterways for over 40 years to document long-term beneficial water quality improvements and to help protect and manage the area’s waterways.
Additional data can be accessed through MMSD Records Department via email request ( recordsrequest@mmsd.com ), website “Contact us” form on mmsd.com , or in person during regular business hours.
The Regulatory Monitoring Program data are uploaded annually to USEPA’s data warehouse and can be viewed or downloaded on the National Water Quality Monitoring Council Water Quality Portal ( https://www.waterqualitydata.us ).
