Mission Statement
To protect public health and the environment by providing exceptional waste water conveyance, treatment, and related services.
Summary
The Village’s waste water is treated at the Wisconsin Rapids Waste water Plant located at 2540 1st Street South.
The Sewer Utility is responsible for serving approximately 400 customers by maintaining approximately 15 miles of sanitary sewer mains ranging in size from 2 inches to 12 inches in diameter. The Village maintains six lift stations. Users of the wastewater system are billed monthly. The amount of water used in your home or business is the amount used to figure your wastewater bill.
Sewer Issues
Sewer Backups
In the event sewage backs up into your basement, call the Village immediately at (715)423-6580. If it is a weekday after 4 PM or a weekend, call (715)424-4962. A Village employee will respond to assess the situation. Several things can cause a backup.
- If your home has an inoperable sump pump groundwater can flood your basement.
- Fats, oils and grease clog sewers. Meat, salad dressing, butter, cooking oils, and many other food scraps contain fatty byproducts that, when washed down a drain, quickly solidify and deposit on the inside of sewer pipes. Over time, the buildup of these fats, oils and grease can completely block a sewer line. Many of the soaps and detergents claiming to dissolve grease simply pass the problem down the pipes, clogging sewer lines in other areas.
- Tree roots will creep into the sewer pipe, trying to find water, and over time cause a blockage. Older houses may have clay sewer service lines, generally constructed in 4-foot segments, which are more susceptible to root intrusion than the sewer lines constructed today. The natural swelling and shrinking of soils can cause the joints between the segments to pull apart, creating an opening for roots to enter.
- Foreign objects (for example, a child's toy) can cause a backup.
- If the city's main has become clogged a backup can also occur
The Village is not responsible for any problems related to the customer's service line or sump pumps. Steps the homeowner can take to protect their property and prevent a backup include:
- Pour leftover cooking oils into a container for proper disposal or recycling
- Scrape fat trimmings into the trash (not the garbage disposal)
- Wipe grease from pots and plates with a paper towel before washing
- Know where the sewer line is located, and avoid planting trees or shrubs near it
- Periodically have the service line mechanically cleaned/root cut or pressure washed (every 3-5 years, or every year for older clay pipes)
- Choose chemical root treatments that contain a foaming agent designed to expand and fill the sewer line, coming in direct contact with the roots (roots typically enter the top part of the sewer line)
If there is a backup, the village crew will run a cleaning device down the village main to clear any clogs in the main, and to attempt to dislodge any tree roots or foreign object that may be in the customer's service line near the connection to the main. If the Village main is blocked, after clearing the blockage, village crew will schedule a TV inspection to determine what caused the backup.
Sewer Odors
All fixtures connected to the sanitary sewer system are required to have a trap that prevents sewer smell and sewer gas from entering your home or building. Sewer gasses develop as the sewage starts to decompose on its way to the wastewater treatment plant.
If you smell any sewer odors within your home or office, make sure that none of your traps are dry. Check your basement floor drains and any fixtures that are infrequently used. If the sewer smell persists, call the Village immediately at (715)423-6580. Sewer gas can be dangerous! Sewer gas and odors typically will enter through a dry trap or a broken service line under the structure. Flushing or cleaning of the sewer mains will at times provide some temporary reduction in the sewer smell. The property owner will be responsible for hiring a plumber to fix any plumbing problems within the facility.