Sewers and Combined Sewer Overflows

Photo courtesy John Winters

Thanks to The Boren Foundation, and Jack and Karen Kay Leonard for making this website possible.

Sewage in Indiana Waters

Background - Information on untreated sewage in Indiana's waters.

IKE's Current Efforts - Projects underway to address sewage releases.

IKE's Past Accomplishments - Past projects to address sewage releases.

Emerging Water Issues in Indiana - Animal manure, engineered wetlands, year-round disinfection, endocrine disruption.

Additional Links - Links to websites with additional useful information.

Background

Playing in water is a natural part of growing up, but if that water is contaminated, it can pose a health threat.

Many Indiana streams contain raw sewage from overflowing sewer systems, leaking septic systems or manure from animals. The bacteria count in these contaminated streams is often more than 100 times the national clean water standard (White River bacteria reports). Sewage contamination of streams can introduce disease causing pathogens into the water and threaten kids' health.

combined sewer overflows (CSOs) - combined sewers are sewer pipes that receive waste water from homes and businesses as well as storm water from storm drains along the streets. The combined waste water and storm water flows through the system to a wastewater treatment plant. When there is sufficient precipitation - in some cases as little as a tenth of an inch - the volume of water in these pipes is too much for the treatment plant, so the excess is released directly into streams at different points in the sewer system without being treated.

The law requires that all cities with combined sewer systems develop a Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to eliminate, to the maximum extent possible, combined sewer overflows. Most Indiana CSO communities have submitted LTCPs that have been approved by IDEM while a few are awaiting approval. Click here to see dates of LTCP approvals.

Unfortunately, in past decades, as new homes and businesses were built, their wastewater was usually added to the system without building any additional capacity for wastewater treatment. Therefore, the increasing sizes of our communities has led to increases in sewer overflows. Since June 2007 Indiana has had a rule empowering the IDEM Commissioner to ban additional sewer connections to systems deemed to be at or near capacity.

Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) - Sanitary sewers are pipes carrying only waste water from businesses and homes. These pipes do not receive storm water. Overflows of untreated sewage from these systems happen when there are equipment failures or when too much storm water gets into the system from downspouts and sump pumps that are illegally hooked to the wastewater system. Untreated or partially treated sewage is sometimes released when a wastewater treatment plant exceeds its capacity. See IDEM's Sanitary Sewer Overflow reports for Indiana.

CSOs and SSOs regularly occur in Indiana communities resulting in millions of gallons of raw or partially treated sewage entering streams and rivers. In some cases these streams are the source of drinking water for downstream communities.

Septic systems - Septic systems handle the wastewater on the same property where it is generated. The waste goes to an underground tank in which the solids settle and decompose. The residual liquid is allowed to trickle out into the surrounding soil from a tile field where remaining impurities decompose in the soil, however, much of the soil in the state is not suitable for septic tank operation (Indiana soils and septics). Septic systems can release bacteria and other contaminants into ground water or local streams. Garbage disposals in sinks have not been prohibited with septic systems; however, they can interfere with the function of a septic system by adding additional solids to the tank, often solids that do not decompose. The Indiana State Department of Health maintains a list of approved septic systems for Indiana. Permits for septic systems are handled by county health departments.

IKE's Current Efforts

Environmental Health Summit: IKE is partnering with the IU Center for Environmental Health and the IUPUI School of Public and Environmental Affairs to host the second Indiana Environmental Health Summit for May 15, 2009. The theme for this one-day event - Water Quality and Human Health - is intended to bring together members of academic, governmental, non-profit, health and business organizations as well as concerned citizens. To register send your name and email address to indfrank@comcast.net with the subject 'summit registration'.

Indiana Water Pollution Control Board: IKE follows the activities of the Water Pollution Control Board and comments on issues that have the potential to impact children's health.

United Water Technical Advisory Committee: An IKE representative attends and contributes to the committee's discussions.

White River Bacteria Reports: Summaries of bacteria counts in the White River are posted quarterly by Pete Drum. These data are a good way to know recent levels and monitor trends over time. All part of the public's right to know....

IKE's Past Accomplishments

Right-to-Know: IKE has been an ardent advocate for timely and effective notice of sewer overflows:
- Advocated for a state rule requiring public notification when combined sewer overflows are likely to occur.
- Successfully called on IDEM to publish the Sanitary Sewer Overflow reports on its website and compiled 1997-2004 SSO data. The CSO reports are available in IDEM's Compliance Branch, but are not online at this time.
No Net Increase in Sewage Overflows: Many sewage overflows are the result of suburban growth since the wastewater from new homes and businesses was typically added to the sewers without adding treatment capacity. The original combined sewers were designed to handle a rainfall of at least three quarters of an inch, but by 2000, many overflowed with only 0.1" of rain. IKE's efforts included the following:
- Petitioned the Indiana Water Pollution Control Board in 2001 to ensure "no net increase in sewer overflows from combined sewers" leading to the rule adopted in 2007 empowering the IDEM Commissioner to ban additional sewer connections to systems deemed to be at or near capacity.
- Published a report in July 2002 on sewer connection permits issued since 1993.
- Reached a formal agreement with the City of Indianapolis in 2004 regarding sewer connections contributing to combined sewer overflows.
Environmental Justice and Civil Rights: In 1999 minority communities were bearing the brunt of the sewer overflows, so IKE filed an administrative civil rights complaint against the City of Indianapolis that led to a long term control plan and Consent Decree. See www.indycleanstreams.org for information on the city's control plan. Detailed history of the civil rights complaint and resolution.
Long-Term Control Plans (LTCP): IKE has worked to ensure that Long-Term Control Plans for CSOs are adopted consistent with state and federal guidance:
- Supported Senate Enrolled Act 431 in 2000 to lay the statutory groundwork for action. Synopsis of 431.
- Supported Senate Enrolled Act 620 in 2005 which further enabled long term control plans. SEA 620. Resulting Indiana Code.
- Helped IDEM develop LTCP guidance .
Education:
- Coordinated a conference, Hoosier Health: Sewage in Our Streams
- Publication of Sewage in Our Streams newsletter from February 2002 to April 2004. The topics were then integrated into IKE's General Newsletter.
- Published Report, July 2002 on Indiana sewage bypasses and overflows
- Published report, June 2002 on CSO monitoring and reporting.