Wastewater Department

The Wastewater System

The Town of Rossville’s Wastewater Department is an activated sludge system using microorganisms, which uses oxygen to break the organic material in the wastewater down to carbon dioxide and water. This is very efficient and is one of the most commonly used wastewater treatments. The water discharged from the plant is clean and is discharged into the Silverthorn Ditch. Water being discharged must meet the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) discharge permit. Discharge water limits are based on strict regulations from the Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).

The treatment plant employs two full time employees. They are responsible for the operation of the plant and infrastructure. The collection system includes over seven miles of separate and combined sanitary sewers. At the present time the system has 640 residential and business sewage connections and has a flow of 130,000 gallons per day.

The plant consists of two activated sludge basins, a fine screen to separate the solids, settling tanks called clarifiers, and a disinfection area. Chlorine and sulfur dioxide is used to disinfect the water before it is discharged. The solids handling area is where the solids are digested and then land applied by an independent contractor. An on site laboratory tests all aspects of the plant for quality assurance and must follow state regulations.

Contact Information

Rates

The sewage rates and charges shall be based on the quantity of water used on or in the property or premises subject to such rates and charges as the same is measured by the water meter there in use, plus a base charge based on the size of the water meter installed. For the purpose of billing and collecting the charges for sewage service, the water meters shall be read monthly and the users shall be billed each month (or period equaling a month). The water usage schedule on which the amount of said rates and charges shall be determined is as follows:

For residential users of the sewage works that are unmetered water users or accurate meter readings are not available, the monthly charge shall be determined by equivalent single family dwelling units, except as herein provided. Sewage service bills shall be rendered once each month (or period equaling a month). The schedule on which said rates and charges will be determined is as follows:

For the service rendered to the Town of Rossville, said Town shall be subject to the same rates and charges established in harmony herewith.

Other Rates

Summer Sprinkling Credit

Applicable to single family domestic and residential users of sewage service. Water usage for the summer months of June, July, and August shall be compared to the corresponding months of January, February, and March, and the sewage billing shall be based on the lesser flow of the summer month or corresponding winter month.