Wastewater Collection

Before wastewater can be treated, it must be collected from homes, businesses, and factories and pumped to the treatment plant. The collection system consists of a grid of underground sanitary sewers that conveys domestic and industrial sewage to lift stations where pumps send the sewage to the treatment plant. It includes all areas inside the corporate limits and also several areas bordering Grand Lake St. Marys.

Collection System Components

• 61 total miles of sewer mains, 6 inches through 24 inches in diameter
  • 48 miles within corporation limits, owned and maintained by City
  • 10 miles owned and maintained by Auglaize County, flow treated at the City's treatment plant
  • 3 miles owned and maintained by the State of Ohio, flow treated at the City's treatment plant
• 1,414 manholes
  • 1,155 owned and maintained by City
  • 233 owned and maintained by Auglaize County
  • 26 owned and maintained by the State of Ohio
• 27 lift stations
  • 19 owned and maintained by City
  • 4 owned and maintained by Auglaize County, flow to City for treatment
  • 4 owned and maintained by the State of Ohio, flow to City for treatment
• 17,000 feet of force mains (pressurized sewer pipe)
• 4,400 service connections

Maintenance

Regular maintenance is a very important part of operating a wastewater collection system. Personnel are charged with many tasks and projects in order to keep the collection system operating at peak levels. Examples include routine inspections and preventative maintenance of sanitary sewers, manholes, and lift stations, regular cleaning and video inspections of sanitary sewers, efforts directed toward keeping excess stormwater (inflow and infiltration) from entering the collection system, and many other activities.