Residents Asked to Clear Sewer Grates

The Department of Public Works is asking residents to remove any debris, litter and branches that may be covering grates near their homes.  There are 55,000 sewer grates in the City of Milwaukee, 35,000 are cleaned on an annual basis.  There isn’t enough staff to monitor them continuously. Every time it rains there will be grates that will be covered with grass clippings, leaves, debris and litter.  After cutting their grass, residents can help by making sure that their grass clippings and other lawn debris is not placed in the curb where it can be washed into the grates during a rainfall.  Citizens can help themselves and the Department by cleaning the tops of the grates occasionally if they noticed they are covered with anything that might clogged them.