CSO PUBLIC NOTIFICATION

Indiana law (327 IAC 5-2.1) requires communities with combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to offer public notification when CSOs are discharging. Mishawaka is one of Indiana’s 105 communities with CSOs that are covered by the law. To comply, we offer our customers and other interested persons an alert notification via e-mail.

CSOs occur when the capacity of the sewer system and treatment plant are exceeded, due to rainfall or snowmelt. When this occurs, the excess mixture of stormwater and sanitary sewage is discharged to the river through combined sewer overflows. The greatest impacts of discharges from CSOs are associated with bacteria in the untreated sewage and in the stormwater run-off. Bacteria levels in the river can rise for several days following a CSO discharge. Notification signs have been posted at CSO outfall locations and at access points along the river.

Interested persons may request email notification when CSOs are discharging or when there is a likelihood that discharges may occur.

Clean waterways are a priority for Mishawaka. We are implementing many projects to improve our waterway and to reduce combined sewer overflows. These efforts include expanding and modernizing our wastewater treatment plant and improving the sewage collection system.