Who We Are
In Milwaukee, Veolia operates and maintains the regional wastewater treatment system on behalf of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). It is a public-private partnership: MMSD owns and oversees the system, and Veolia operates it under contract. Both organizations are accountable for the system's performance. The partnership began in 2008 and is today one of the largest wastewater operations in North America, run by a skilled local workforce.
MMSD - public owner and regulator of the system.
Veolia - private operator, under contract and accountable for performance.
At a Glance
1M+ residents served
29 communities
150M gallons treated daily
400+ local employees
62,000+ visitors welcomed since 2008
Protecting Water, Public Health & the Environment
Our work protects public health and Lake Michigan. We focus on three priorities: enhancing treatment performance and reliability; strengthening the system's resilience during extreme weather; and maintaining compliance with rigorous environmental standards.
From Wastewater to Resource Recovery
Milwaukee treats wastewater as a resource. Through an Ecofactory® approach, the facilities capture and reuse energy, recover valuable resources - including Milorganite® fertilizer produced at Jones Island - and reduce environmental impact. This places Milwaukee at the forefront of circular-economy innovation in water management.
Investing in Milwaukee's Future
Beyond operating the system, Veolia invests in the region. We support local workforce development with partners such as Employ Milwaukee and WRTP | BIG STEP. We work with community partners including Reflo, the Urban Ecology Center, Historic Milwaukee, Milwaukee Downtown and The Water Council. We sponsor initiatives that improve quality of life, from Bublr Bikes to the Tour of America's Dairyland, and support local causes through the Veolia Foundation.
Looking Ahead
We will continue investing in environmental education, workforce development, sustainable infrastructure and quality-of-life partnerships across the Milwaukee area.
About Veolia in North America
In North America, Veolia is a leading environmental services provider with more than more than 15,000 employees working at over 500 locations. It's the largest private water operator in the U.S. and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It is uniquely positioned in the American market with a leadership role in improving water quality and removing pollutants offering a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery.
About Veolia
Veolia, a global leader in environmental services, works every day to build environmental security for the benefit of public health and the competitiveness of industries and regions. With 215,000 employees across five continents, working closely with local communities, and thanks to its cutting-edge technologies, the group cleans up pollution, reduces carbon emissions, and regenerates resources through concrete solutions that combine its expertise in water and water technologies, waste - including hazardous waste management, and local energy. In 2025, the Veolia group served 110 million people with drinking water and 97 million with sanitation, produced 45 million megawatt hours of energy, and treated 64 million tons of waste. Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE, Fortune 500, SBF 120) generated consolidated revenue of €44.4 billion in 2025.
Milwaukee office
In 2024, Veolia North America opened a new office space along the river in Downtown Milwaukee. It is home to approximately 150 employees who support VNA in the areas of Finance, IT, HR, and Legal across all lines of business.