Roots Cause Sanitary Sewer Overflow, City Teamwork Leads to Fast Cleanup

An area on the east side of the City of Madison is clean after 500 gallons of sewage overflowed Thursday morning.   

A resident reported a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) at 7:57 a.m., Sept. 10, 2026, on the 600 block of Acewood Blvd. Wastewater was seen coming out of a City sanitary sewer access structure (manhole) SAS6744-006. City of Madison Engineering crews arrived at 8:20 a.m., and stopped the SSO by 8:35 a.m. 

An estimated volume of 500 gallons of sewage overflowed onto the street and reached the City storm sewer on Acewood Blvd.  

A root obstruction in the sewer main caused the overflow.. The vactor crew cleared the obstruction in the main and sewer returned to normal operation at 8:35 a.m. The affected area was cleaned by 9:25 a.m. Cleanup was completed on the street surface, along with cleaning the City storm sewer and sanitary sewers in the area.       

It is Wisconsin State Law to report sewer blockages and overflows. 

This notice is provided in compliance with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Administrative Code and the City of Madison's Capacity, Maintenance, Operations & Management (CMOM) Program.