The 2025 Annual Report features some highlights of our journey throughout the year to protect our most valuable resource, water.
NEW Water is the proud recipient of an official proclamation from Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, in honor of Wastewater Professionals' Appreciation Day, May 22. The Department of Health Services & Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene also shared their appreciation for our continuing commitment, and participation in the Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program, which detects viral and bacterial pathogens. The program helps local health departments use data to better forecast, track, and prevent outbreaks. Check out the impact report (image above), showing an overview from the NEW Water service area sewershed. Learn more about the Program >>
In April, NEW Water co-hosted a tabletop exercise (TTX) related to community response and our De Pere Facility, in light of a new public trail opening later this year.
NEW Water partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the City of De Pere and Brown County Emergency Management to design an exercise to evaluate coordination, communication, resource awareness and response considerations during a significant disruption affecting wastewater infrastructure. The event culminated in a “live” press conference, with all represented agencies, which was led by NEW Water. A “hot wash” was held after the TTX to discuss what went well and what could be improved, to better prepare for emergencies, and ensure open communication prior to and during emergencies.
Held at Brown County Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the TTX brought together 29 participants from 16 agencies and organizations, including NEW Water, Department of Corrections, De Pere Fire/EMS, De Pere Public Health, FBI local and regional - including their Joint Terrorism Task Force, Brown County Emergency Management, Brown County Parks, Brown County Public Health, De Pere Administration, De Pere Police, De Pere Public Works, DHS' Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Wisconsin Emergency Management, and the Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center.
Participants indicated that the exercise improved understanding of partner capabilities and resources, with an average score of 4.68 out of 5.00.
Participants recognized the importance of relationships and coordination between agencies, early messaging, social listening, holding statements, staff notification, and use of established public information channels.
NEW Water is grateful for the ongoing partnership of our many community partners, as we strive to provide a nonstop, essential public health service.
Photo caption: Brown County Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) hosted this important TTX event for many community and regional agencies.
When recreating this summer, stay safe, and "Avoid the Ick!" Thanks to a grant received from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, we’ve created a Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) awareness campaign (see enclosed example of a poster), to help inform our community about keeping safe while recreating in area waters. The campaign also included signage, which has been installed in various Brown County Parks. HABs are common in area waters, look like pea-green soup, and can be harmful to people and pets.
Learn more about the campaign >>
NEW Water was one of the five organizations selected by the Great Lakes Observing System Coastal Monitoring for funding of a coastal hazard project. NEW Water will deploy three buoys in Lower Green Bay (two new and one upgraded), each equipped with wave and weather monitoring. These buoys will help fill a critical observing gap by better characterizing local wave conditions - supporting safer decisions for recreational boaters and commercial vessels. Learn more about the buoys >>
NEW Water earns Gus H. Radenbaugh Award (image left). In collaboration with Black & Veatch and Enviromix, NEW Water was recently honored with the Gus H. Radenbaugh Award for the best technical paper presented at the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA) annual meeting in May. Learn more about this award >>
NEW Water selected for the 2026 George W. Burke Jr. Facility Safety Award (image right). NEW Water was selected by the Water Environment Federation to receive the 2026 George W. Burke, Jr. Facility Safety Award at the CSWEA annual meeting. Learn more about this award >>
NACWA Peak Performance Award. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies has recognized NEW Water for achieving 100% permit compliance at the Platinum level for 23 years at the Green Bay Facility.
On April 18, NEW Water partnered with the Green Bay Water Utility, Einstein Project, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and the Greater Green Bay STEM Network for the annual STEM Family Day.
Attended by more than 1,400 people, the event was intended to entertain and educate area families on the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). NEW Water held an educational booth with a "poo emoji" toss for the kids (and their adults!), an educational game showing how to protect the environment and public health by only flushing the 3Ps. Community outreach events like this teaches children about water resources, as well as exciting careers in water they may wish to pursue. It's also an important opportunity to "meet people where they are," to engage community members about the value of the wastewater services provided by NEW Water.
Did you know that washing your car on your lawn is a simple thing you can do to help prevent urban runoff from polluting the Bay of Green Bay? Storm water drains – the drains in the gutters along the street -- run directly out to our waterways. Trapping car grease and dirt before they reach our waterways helps to protect our environment. Learn how you can #LoveYourWatershed >>
A Municipal & Industrial partner meeting was held on June 18, with topics including spring wet weather impacts, a pilot project on potential operational savings in the treatment process, capital projects, and 2027 budget. See the presentation here >>
The Downtown Interceptors Renewal Project continues, renewing critical infrastructure that has been in place since the 1930s. Project completion is expected later this year. See the latest updates here >>
Plant Profile: CSWEA Magazine. NEW Water was featured in this magazine, read the article here >>
Water Environment & Technology Magazine. NEW Water was featured in "No Fumbles on the Flush: How Green Bay's NEW Water Handled the 2025 NFL Draft," read the article here >>
Wet Weather Impacts. Severe wet weather events in NEW Water's service area inundated our community's shared sanitary sewer system with rain water. NEW Water received more than five times the amount of average flow - well beyond what the system is designed to treat. Check out the media coverage here >>