CSO Discharge Notice

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CSOs and Environmental Awareness

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Plenty of information has been shared with the city residents across the country about combined sewer overflows and their impact on the environment. These primitive designs in wastewater treatment lines allowed for storm runoff to enter public waterways—streams, rivers and ditches. Of course, we understand the importance of limiting the presence of harmful bacteria like E. coli in our environment and now take steps to keep storm sewers and wastewater separate.

Nappanee has a long-term control plan to address these types of issues and protect our natural resources. We have discharge points in the Berlin Court Ditch, but we are systematically approaching the issue to prevent dangerous discharges while being mindful of the expense to ratepayers.

Please direct any questions or concerns about the environment to our office.

Mercury Variance

Recently, stringent mercury regulations have been imposed on the City of Nappanee wastewater facility discharge whereby the City is required to implement a mercury Pollutant Minimization Program Plan (PMPP) to reduce mercury that is transported to the wastewater treatment facility for treatment.

Mercury can make its way into the city’s sewer system and treatment facilities from multiple sources—even by the way of rainfall that is later transported to the City’s wastewater facility for treatment. Some mercury contributions to the City’s sewer system are, however, under our control. So, the City requests that all residents and businesses lend a hand to eliminate sources of mercury that may enter the sewer system and waterways. For example, thermometers, lights, dental amalgam, batteries, and switches may contain mercury.

If you are aware of items that contain mercury in your home, please take these items for disposal to the Elkhart Residential Household Hazardous Waste Collections Site which is located at the Elkhart County Correctional Facility near the intersection of CR 7 and CR 26. Please be advised that collection is limited to the first Saturday of the month from 8:00am-3:00pm.

If you should find items containing mercury in your business, please contact your waste management provider for disposal options. If further information is desired on items containing mercury or disposal options, please visit the links below for more information.

Help Keep Our Lines Clear

Rags. Plastic Bottles. Styrofoam. Baby Wipes. All of these solid items and more can clog the lines and create hazardous backups into residential basements. These repairs to city infrastructure can be costly for ratepayers, and it takes away time from our streets and utility department who can spend more time on other improvements.

Take time to read the city’s sewer use ordinance which obligates customers to protect the system and use it appropriately.

Please don’t flush any item that can potentially block a pipe. Also, be wise about what you send down the sink drain—metals like mercury and silver, household cleaners, petroleum products and other chemicals can severely impact the wastewater treatment facility’s ability to clear out any contaminants.

For the health of our families, our community and our environment, please help us use our system correctly!

Great Lakes Basin CSO Public Notification Requirements

In accordance with 40 CFR 122.38, the City of Nappanee is required to comply with the Great Lakes Basin Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) public notification provisions as authorized by Section 425 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016; Public Law 114-113; and FWPCA 33 U.S.C. 1251.

Through close coordination with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) Office of Water Quality (OWQ), the City of Nappanee prepared an updated CSO Public Notification Plan that was approved by the IDEM OWQ on September 24, 2018. The City of Nappanee is also required to prepare an Annual Notice per 40 CFR 122.38(b) and a copy of this report can be downloaded below.

Great Lakes Basin Combined Sewer Overflow Annual Public Notice