Where are the CSOs?

Combined sewers serve many communities especially in the northeast and Great Lakes region of the United States. Fort Wayne has a typical combined sewer system. In Fort Wayne, combined sewers are found mostly in the older part of the City. Fort Wayne has about 50 combined sewer overflow outfalls going to the three rivers and their tributaries.

How do CSOs Affect the Fort Wayne Community?

During dry weather, combined sewers that serve the older part of Fort Wayne carry sanitary sewage from homes and businesses to the Water Pollution Control Plant. When it rains, however, the combined sewer overflows (CSOs) happen, river quality may be impaired by the untreated wastewater that discharges from combined sewers into the City's three rivers.

The main pollutants in CSOs are untreated human and industrial wastes, toxic materials like oil and pesticides, and floating debris that may wash into the sewer system. These pollutants can affect your health if you swim in CSO-polluted water.

The pollutants in CSOs can impair use of the rivers and cause a variety of bacteria-related illnesses. CSO pollutants are not just a human health concern. They damage the environment for fish, shellfish and other aquatic life.