Solutions to residential flooding offered at Rainwater Reuse Fair

The Think Blue Think Green Rainwater Reuse Fair, hosted by nonprofit Milwaukee Water Commons, offers homeowners with solutions to the problem of flooded basements and streets after every heavy rain with hands-on education.

The event will showcase how neighborhood residents can direct rainwater away from their homes to rain barrels, rain gardens, flower and garden beds, and community gardens. Local experts will be available to discuss these solutions, many of which can be done at low- or no-cost to neighborhood residents.

“Milwaukee homeowners can reduce flooding and save money by collecting and reusing rainwater in flower and vegetable gardens,” said Nicole Carver, co-chair of the Green Infrastructure Initiative. “The great green infrastructure work the Alice’s Garden community has built has spurred a lot of interest from local residents, and we’re excited to show folks just how easy and cost-effective it is to install these great solutions in their yards.” Attendees of the fair can expect to learn about the different types of options available, and to access free or low-cost services.

Think Blue Think Green is part of the Milwaukee Water Commons Water City Agenda. It also works in collaboration with the Milwaukee City Council Promise Zones Initiative. The first neighborhood rainwater reuse fair is supported by a grant from the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

“Nature-based solutions like those featured at the Rainwater Reuse Fair are good for communities, drinking water and the Great Lakes,” added Todd Ambs, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “The bottom line is communities around the region need help to fix, repair and modernize their drinking water and waste water infrastructure to keep communities and families safe, and we’re counting on the federal government to make investments in water infrastructure a top priority.”

“There’s so much interest in our communities about how to better manage our water infrastructure, for both the sake of our residents and our environment,” added Carver. “This is really becoming a movement in our city, and the Rainwater Reuse Fair invites new leadership to grow and shape this movement.”

Milwaukee Water Commons is dedicated to fostering connection, collaboration and broad community leadership on behalf of regional waters, promoting stewardship of, equitable access to, and shared decision-making for the area’s common natural resources.

The first Think Blue Think Green Rainwater Reuse Fair will be held on August 27, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Alice’s Garden, 2136 N 21st Street in Milwaukee.