NEW Water News

NEW Water celebrates nine decades of water treatment

December 2021 - The Press Times featured NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, for the celebration of 90 years of service to the community. 

We celebrated the 90th year of protecting our most valuable resource, water. 

As a wastewater utility, NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, is regulated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), and is committed to meeting permit obligations on behalf of the communities it serves. With the health of area waters being essential for a thriving economy, as well as public health, the WDNR recognized that more meaningful water quality improvements could be made at a lower cost, and more environmental gain, if nonpoint sources and point sources were to partner together. In addition to treatment alternatives, they offer an alternative compliance option known as Adaptive Management, which in some cases, is a more economical approach that can yield greater environmental gain. As stewards of Northeastern Wisconsin’s water and financial resources, NEW Water has selected Adaptive Management as its permit compliance option.

The NEW Water Commission has passed a 2022 budget to ensure continued reliability of essential services to protect public health and the region’s water environment. The budget includes a Facility Plan to ensure future needs are met, and a capital build for long-term rate stability. The 2022 budget reflects a 2.5% increase in total expenses over the 2021 budget. See the 2022 Adopted Budget here.

NEW Water has received a Midwest Region Coastal Program grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to restore at least eight acres of historical wetlands on agricultural land in the watersheds of Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman Creek (ACDC). This project sits at the intersection of water quality improvements and habitat restoration benefits, as it proposes to capture sediment and reduce nutrient loading within ACDC, while improving habitat quality for marsh birds and shorebirds. Restored wetlands will be designed with native grasses, pollinator habitat, and extended buffers around each basin. The goal of this effort is not to take agricultural land out of production, but to find the balance of a healthy productive ecosystem from the perspective of water quality, agriculture, and habitat.

Unique circular reclaimed water system online at Green Bay Packaging Paper Mill

Brown County, the City of Green Bay, Green Bay Packaging, and NEW Water are happy to announce that a first-of-its-kind, circular reclaimed water system at the new Green Bay Packaging Paper Mill is now online.

Improving impaired waterways of Green Bay through a regional approach is now part of a new, large-scale water quality improvement program which was publicly launched on October 20, 2021 by NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District. 

NEW Water update meeting

NEW Water held an update meeting on October 21 with topics including Adaptive Management launch, Inflow & Infiltration, “Unflushables,” and more.

(Green Bay, WI) Improving impaired waterways of Green Bay through a regional approach is the goal of a new, large-scale water quality improvement program publicly launched today by NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District.

What gets in our water when fall is in the air?

October 2021 - WBAY featured NEW Water highlighting the importance raking leaves has on the environment, which can be a fun activity you do with your kids or partner. Cleaning storm drains by raking leaves out of the way can create safer water for us and the local wildlife.