Water Pollution Control Plant

The Water Pollution Control Plant treats an average of 50 million gallons of mostly domestic sewage per day. The Plant also maintains three ponds that serve as primary treatment facilities for stormwater and combined sewage (domestic sewage mixed with stormwater). Plant personnel are responsible for operation and maintenance of the pump stations that help move sewage to the Plant and for regulators that allow some combined sewage to be diverted into the rivers during periods of heavy rain when too much flow to the Plant could upset the delicate balance that makes the Plant function.  View a factsheet.

The testing laboratory at the Water Pollution Control Plant is responsible for monitoring the discharge coming from the Plant and from the stormwater ponds to ensure that it meets the requirements of the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

For the 6th consecutive year the laboratory staff has received an Award for Laboratory Excellence from the Indiana Water Pollution Control Association.

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO)

Much of the older part of Fort Wayne is served by combined sewers -- sewers that carry domestic sewage in dry weather, but also carry stormwater runoff during wet weather. During periods of heavy rain, CSOs act as relief valves allowing some of the combined sewage to go directly into a river.

CSOs are not illegal. In fact, they are permitted by state and federal regulations. Fort Wayne has been ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency to operate its CSOs in compliance with new federal guidelines. The City has designed a Combined Sewer System Operational Plan to do that and is beginning to implement that plan.

Sewer Rates

Sewer Advisory Group agenda for next week.pdf

Click here for the Sewer agenda

Fort Wayne's Water Pollution Control (Sewer) Utility last increased rates on March 1, 2007.  FiLearn more about sewer rates by reading Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.