MMSD Blue Notes: Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility Turns 100

Jones Island’s impeccable record of service went beyond treating wastewater; it defined the term sustainability before many even thought of what it meant to be sustainable. Since 1926, the sludge produced at Jones Island has been converted to an organic-based fertilizer. This cradle-to-cradle approach, named Milorganite®, has continued to be an economic engine and an environmental cornerstone for the Milwaukee region. Milwaukee is known throughout the world by this product and attracts thousands of visitors who want to repeat this story in their regions.

Many may think that Jones Island represents the dirty underbelly of our urban society, but to me, it is an illuminating green star that takes the most polluted water and cleans it to an environmentally friendly level. Jones Island provides cleaner water to Lake Michigan and provides fertilizer to help feed our world. In the last 27 years, I have seen our public come to realize what an amazing place Jones Island is. Jones Island is also more than just the equipment that cleans our water; it is the people who have worked there all these years. Their passion and dedication are on exhibit every day. They make Jones Island work!

We are so lucky to have the Jones Island Water Reclamation Facility right here in downtown Milwaukee! Now on to the next 100 years!