|
Terre Haute, like many other Midwestern cities has a problem with polluted waterways. Combined sewage overflows, failing septic systems, and urban stormwater runoff all contribute to sewage or untreated water flowing into the Wabash River. Since the addition of indoor plumbing, Terre Haute has had a problem with combined sewage running into the Wabash River. When it rains or when snow melts, stormwater floods the pipes that make up the combined sewer system, mixing with sanitary sewage. As little as a quarter inch of rain can cause that water to overflow into the river through combined sewer overflows (CSO). Combined sewage causes health problems and degrades the quality of our river. Terre Haute is working hard to combat this CSO problem and help make the Wabash River cleaner and safer for our citizens. For more information, click below on the following topics: Terre Haute’s first sewer system was installed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and was intended to carry stormwater away from homes and businesses. In 1965, a primary treatment plant was constructed, along with an interceptor that runs along the Wabash River and the main lift station. Various improvements have been made since the addition of the treatment facility, including the addition of secondary treatment and flow equalization basins. The Terre Haute Sanitary District provides wastewater treatment to the City of Terre Haute, Seelyville, and rural areas around Terre Haute, consisting of both combined and separated sewers. The CSO service area covers approximately 17,000 acres, including about 5,100 acres which are served by combined sewers. Parts of the City’s sewer system are old and in need of repair. The 4th Street sewer from Oak Avenue to Washington Avenue has experienced several collapses in the past few years and is in poor structural condition. Also, the old large diameter brick sewers should be televised and cleaned in order to maximize flow capacity to the wastewater treatment plant. Terre Haute has developed many projects which will help keep our sanitary sewer system working properly. These projects include rehabilitation of existing sanitary sewers, construction of new sanitary sewers, and separation of existing combined sewers. For a comprehensive list of these projects, visit our Related Projects Page. Failing Septic systems cause sewage to leak into groundwater and backyards, and eventually into streams and rivers. This contributes to higher E. coli rates in community waters. In Terre Haute, if your house is located within 300 feet of a sanitary sewer, you must connect to the public sewer system. Please contact the City Engineering Department at 232-4028 for more information about connecting to the City’s sewer system. When it rains as little as a quarter inch, combined sewage flows into the Wabash River through our combined sewer overflows. Terre Haute is working hard to reduce these overflows as much as possible with improvements not only to the sanitary and combined sewer systems, but also to the stormwater sewer system. The incorrect connections of downspouts and sump pumps to the combined sewer system contributes to our CSO problem. The stormwater entering the sewer system from these often illegal connections takes up space in the system and at the wastewater treatment plant, causing the sewers to back up into basements and streets or overflow into the Wabash River. In a neighborhood of 200 homes it only takes six to eight sump pumps working full time in wet weather to cause a backup into basements, streets or our river. Also, with each new development in Terre Haute, more stormwater runs into the sewer system from roads and rooftops. This causes increasing problems in areas still served by combined sewers because the stormwater takes up extra space in the sewers and causes overflows. In addition to incorrect connections and excess stormwater runoff, some of the sewers in the combined sewer system have deteriorated to the point where groundwater infiltrates through cracks in the pipes. This excess water takes up space in the sewer system, causing overflows.
Why it happens In the late 1800’s, the City of Terre Haute constructed a storm sewer system to carry stormwater from businesses and homes. When indoor plumbing came along, people began connecting their home systems to the existing sewer system, creating combined sewers. Today, many areas of the City are still served by this combined sewer system. During dry weather, wastewater flows from buildings through the sewers, to eventually be treated at the City’s wastewater treatment facility. However, during large storm events or when snow melts, the City’s combined sewer system is inundated with stormwater and cannot handle the excess flow. In order to prevent water from backing up into homes and streets, the extra flow is discharged into the Wabash River through combined sewer overflows (CSO). This flow is a mixture of stormwater and wastewater. Below is a illustration of what happens to sewers when it rains.
|
