Sewer Service Area Planning

Plans

Sewer service area plans

Specific community sewer service growth plans, amendments and local or regional contacts

Complex Growth Areas - Multiple Urban Service Plans

• Brown County Planning Commission Area (BCPC)
• Dane County - Capitol Area Regional Planning (CARPC)
• East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning (ECWRPC)
• Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning (SEWRPC)

Single Community Service Areas

Baraboo SSA Plan Beaver Dam SSA Plan Beloit SSA Plan Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire SSA Plan Fort Atkinson SSA Plan Hudson SSA Plan Janesville SSA Plan La Crosse SSA Plan Luxemburg SSA Plan Manitowoc, Two Rivers SSA Plan Marinette SSA Plan Menomonie SSA Plan Merrill SSA Plan

Monroe SSA Plan Oconto SSA Plan Platteville SSA Plan River Falls SSA Plan Sheboygan SSA Plan Stevens Point, Plover SSA Plan Sturgeon Bay SSA Plan Superior SSA Plan Watertown SSA Plan Wausau SSA Plan Whitewater SSA Plan Wisconsin Rapids

Agencies

Agencies

Local agencies for water quality certification letters

The following agencies conduct sewer service area planning for the areas indicated. These agencies also review proposed sewer extensions and provide sewer service area conformance letters (also known as water quality management letters).

Agency	Areas Served
East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Agency 400 Ahnaip Street, Ste. 100 Menasha WI 54952 920-751-4771	Counties: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Menominee, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago
Capital Area Regional Planning Commission 100 State Street, Suite 400 Madison WI 53703 608-474-6016	County of Dane
Brown County Planning Commission 305 E Walnut Street, Room 320 PO Box 23600 Green Bay WI 54305-3600 920-448-6480	County of Brown
Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission W239 N1812 Rockwood Drive PO Box 1607 Waukesha WI 53187-1607 262-547-6721	Counties: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Waukesha, Washington
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission 800 Wisconsin Street Eau Claire, WI 54703-3606 715-836-2918	Chippewa-Eau Claire Metropolitan Planning Area Cities: Altoona, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Towns of Brunswick, Hallie, Lafayette, Seymour, Tilden, Union, Washington Village of Lake Hallie
St. Croix County Planning Department 1101 Carmichael Road Hudson WI 54016 715-386-4673	Hudson Urban Area, City of Hudson, Towns: Hudson, St. Joseph, Troy Village of N. Hudson Western 1/2 of Town of Warren
Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission 425 South Adams Street, Suite 201 Green Bay WI 54301 920-448-2820	Cities: Manitowoc, Marinette, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, Two Rivers, Mishicot Towns: Peshtigo and Porterfield in Marinette County, Towns of Herman, Lima, Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls, and Wilson in Sheboygan County Villages: Kohler, Luxemburg
Rock County Planning Agency 51 South Main Street Janesville WI 608-757-5587	Cities: Beloit, Janesville, Milton Towns: Beloit, Harmony, Janesville, La Prairie, Rock, Turtle, Milton (if tributary to city of Milton)
La Crosse/Onalsaka, Office of City Engineer 400 La Crosse Street La Crosse WI 54601 608-789-7505	Cities: La Crosse, Onalaska Towns: Campbell, Shelby
Portage County Planning Department 1462 Strongs Avenue Stevens Point WI 54481 715-346-1334	Stevens Point Urban Area City of Stevens Point Towns: Hull, Linwood, Plover Villages: Park Ridge, Plover, Whiting
Marathon County Planning Department 210 River Drive Wausau, WI 54403-5449 715-261-6040	Wausau Urban Area Cities: Wausau, Schofield, Mosinee Town: Bergen, Berling, Maine, Mosinee, Rib Mountain, Rothschild, Stettin, Texas, Wausau Rib Mountain Metropolitan Sewerage District Villages: Weston, Kronenwetter, Rothchild
Wood County Planning 400 Market Street Wisconsin Rapids WI 54495 715-421-8466	Southern Wood County Cities: Marshfield, Nekoosa, Wisconsin Rapids Towns: Cameron, Grand Rapids, Lincoln, Marshfield, McMillan, Port Edwards, Rudolph, Saratoga, Seneca, Sigel, Spencer Villages: Biron, Hewitt, Port Edwards, Rudolph
Dunn County Land Conservation 390 Red Cedar Street Menomonie WI 54751 715-232-1496	City of Menomonie (Sanitary Sewer Extensions only)
Oconto County/West Shore Oconto County Planning, Zoning and Solid Waste Department 310 Washington Street Oconto WI 54153-1621 920-834-6827	City of Oconto Towns: Abrams, Little River, Little Suamico, Oconto, Pensaukee, Stiles
North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission 210 McClellan Street, Ste. 210 Wausau WI 54403 715-849-5510	City of Merrill TownsL Merrill, Pine River, Scott
City of Baraboo, City Engineer 135 4th Street Baraboo WI 53913 608-355-2735	City of Baraboo Towns: Baraboo, Fairfield, Greenfield Baraboo Sanitary District Village of West Baraboo
City of Superior Environmental Services Division, ATTN: Chris Carlson 51 E. 1st St Superior WI 54880 715-394-0392	City of Superior
Utilities General Manager - Cliff White Sturgeon Bay Utilities 230 East Vine Street PO Box 259 Sturgeon Bay WI 54235 920-746-2820	City of Sturgeon Bay
Beaver Dam Engineer City of Beaver Dam, Town of Beaver Dam 205 South Lincoln Avenue Beaver Dam WI 53916 920-356-2543	City of Beaver Dam
River Falls Municipal Utilities 222 Lewis Street River Falls WI 54022 715-425-0906	City of River Falls Towns: Troy, Kinnikinnic in St. Croix County; Clifton, River Falls in Pierce County
City of Monroe 1110 18th Avenue Monroe WI 53566 608-329-2595	City of Monroe
City of Platteville 75 North Bonson Street PO Box 780 Platteville WI 53818 608-348-9741	City of Platteville Parts of towns of Platteville and Belmont
Water Services Manager City of Watertown 800 Hoffman Drive PO Box 477 Watertown WI 53094 920-262-4085	City of Watertown Parts of towns of Emmet and Shields in Dodge County, and towns of Watertown and Milford in Jefferson County

Complex growth areas (Designated Areas)

Southeast Regional Planning Commission (Designated Planning Agency)

• SEWRPC
• Sanitary sewer status page

Dane County WQM Plan (CARPC Contract Agency)

• CARPC
• Dane County Viewer

Brown County Planning Commission, contract agency for the Fox Valley Water Quality Planning Area

• Brown County Planning Commission
• Brown County Viewer
• Comprehensive Plan Update

East Central Regional Planning Commission, contract agency for the Fox Valley Water Quality Planning Area

• ECWRPC
• ECWRPC Viewer

Single community service areas (Non-designated)

• Chippewa Falls/Eau Claire
• Rock County (Janesville, Beloit)
• Wausau/Rib Mountain/Marshfield/Weston (Marathon County)
• La Crosse/Onalaska
• Manitowoc/Two Rivers (Bay Lake RPC)
• Superior
• Stevens Point/Plover
• River Falls
• Watertown
• Wisconsin Rapids
• Menomonie
• Beaver Dam
• Whitewater
• Hudson
• Ft. Atkinson
• Baraboo
• Platteville
• Marinette (Bay Lake RPC)
• Monroe
• Merrill
• Sturgeon Bay

SSA Basics

Communities develop sewer service area plans to create a logical structure for wastewater treatment. The plan is a first step for many communities in developing a 'nested' management scheme: the SSA Plan reflects the goals and objectives of regional, comprehensive or master plans and facilities plans and subsequent plans and specifications for sewer lines provide the detailed engineering for the community's wastewater needs. Together, these plans support the state's Areawide Water Quality Management Program, of which Sewer Service Area planning is one component.

Sewer service area plans are developed for individual communities and for multiple communities served jointly by one wastewater treatment plant. The plans use 20-year population projections, local density standards and an inventory of areas identified as environmentally sensitive for projecting and evaluating wastewater treatment and collection system needs for 20 years into the future. Participating communities are thus planning for future growth versus reacting to unanticipated demands.

Sewer service area plans incorporate and support local land use plans, employment trends and development trends. Land needs, commercial/industrial uses and residential uses are projected and accounted for in the process. Property owners and local governments within the sewer service area benefit from environmentally safe, low-maintenance and cost-effective wastewater treatment. Community sanitary districts benefit by identifying the wastewater system improvements necessary to meet future growth projections.

Procedures

Procedures

Contact your local planning agency (RPC, County, etc.) if your development falls within one of the designated or undesignated areas.

The DNR will receive applications for urban service amendments through the local or regional planning agency. Each agency has specific procedures and processes that should be followed and they will work with you.

Contract agencies and designated management agencies send amendment requests, analysis reports and summaries of the proposed updates to DNR by:

• uploading the proposed amendment and related reports to the SWIMS database;
• emailing a notification to DNR of the uploaded amendment request and providing the URL of where the amendment is located; and
• communicating with DNR on any environmental issues or public comment issues through sending public hearing minutes with the proposed amendment.

The DNR logs proposed action into tracking database and reviews the proposal for conformance with the Areawide Water Quality Management Plan (and local SSA Plan) for conformance with water quality issues and environmentally sensitive area delineations.

The DNR issues an administrative decision in the order that the request is received. Exceptions to this FIFO rule involve large updates or amendments that require more extensive review and additional public input.

Small amendments can be processed as quickly as 30 days.

Large amendments may take 2 or 3 months from the time they reach the DNR to the time an administrative decision is issued.

The DNR will notify the agency that submitted the amendment of the administrative decision by email. The DNR sends the administrative decision letter to the agency and will copy affected parties and/or the agency will forward the news to the affected parties. The DNR will store the documents in its database in perpetuity and keep the paper file for a time frame dictated by document disposition rules.

Elements

SSA Plan Elements

• Update cycle
• Plan updates and amendment procedures
• SSA boundary maps & growth projections
• Conformance Reviews (208 Letter)
• SSA plan policies, procedures, local concerns
• Public participation
• Ensure adequate public Input
• Field Surveys

Update cycle

Areawide water quality management plans for each non-designated area shall be subject to a major review and update at least every 5 years (NR 121.08(2)(a)). Frequent sewer service area plan amendments or a community land use plan update are other signals that a plan update may be appropriate.

Plan updates and amendments

Read example SSA plan [PDF]

Each area specifies its own amendment procedures to addresses plan amendments.

• Sewer service area "swaps" add and delete equal areas of land in the sewer service area boundary for no net increase in the sewer service area acreage.
• Documented "population projection adjustments" are a response to unanticipated growth, or other changes, in the 20-year sewered development plan.
• Changes to the locally approved population density standard.
• Allowances for sewer to unanticipated public park rest room or new factory just outside of town.
• Existing development" areas (and particularly those that suffer from failing onsite septic systems), can be added to the sewer service area plan if it's shown to be the cost-effective wastewater treatment alternative.
• Re-designation of "environmentally sensitive area" boundaries may be allowed if all applicable environmental permits are granted and it's determined that no significant adverse water quality impact would be created.

SSA boundary maps & growth projections

Boundary Maps

• Sewer Service Area map updates. The map is the graphic indicator of the community's sewered development. The map should include both current sewered areas and future development areas. The map should delineate the sewer service area boundaries along easily discernible landmarks such as roads, rivers and property boundaries. The following should be clearly delineated on the map: environmentally sensitive areas, proposed and existing interceptor lines, wastewater treatment plant(s), and vacant areas appropriate for "infill" development.
• This section describes what environmental and planning information should be included on SSA boundary maps (including environmentally sensitive areas) and which additional pieces of information should be included in the overall SSA Plan.
• Sewer service area maps are the graphic result of the growth strategy for the community's sewered development. The map should delineate the sewer service area boundaries along easily discernible landmarks such as roads, rivers and property boundaries when possible. Because of the meandering nature of many environmentally sensitive area boundaries, those boundaries are harder to identify. Most, if not all, water quality planning agencies create the sewer service area and environmentally sensitive area boundaries on air photo maps for more critical boundary determinations. When the plan map can not include sufficient detail to identify all the boundaries, such as wetlands, this fact should be noted at the appropriate place in the text or maps. For example: "Note - The exact environmentally sensitive area boundaries must be located through a field survey by the Army Corps and/or DNR staff."

Show the planning area limits

• Planning areas generally include all areas within the city, village and sanitary district limits. They should also include adjacent future development areas reasonable for the installation of an extended sanitary sewerage system, and existing development areas that may be experiencing failing onsite septic systems. Planning areas generally extend beyond the existing or future development areas to the nearest quarter section line. All environmentally sensitive areas within the planning area should be delineated.

Identify other conditions

• Sewerline siting - Proposed and existing interceptor sewer lines and force mains needed to serve the plan's anticipated 20-year growth should be shown on the sewer service area boundary map. NR 150 requires an environmental assessment for sewers with a diameter of 18" or greater, unless their location is established as part of the approved sewer service area plan. Since the design life of sewers exceeds the 20-year horizon of sewer service area plans, the time horizon for these facilities can be based on a longer time frame than that used for the sewer service area plan. The water quality planning agency should review the design parameters and ultimate service area of the proposed interceptor. Proposed and existing pump/lift stations should also be shown on the map.
• Wastewater treatment plant(s) - Show the location of the proposed or existing plants on sewer service area maps and discuss capacity issues in the facilities section.
• "Infill" Development - The sewer service area map should identify vacant areas appropriate for "infill" development. These areas should be included in the sewer service area residential and commercial/industrial acreage allocations as appropriate.

Discuss the growth forecast and acreage allocation

• Population projections. Updates to population projections are normally derived from data generated by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
• Documentation of public participation. Documentation can include public comments, remarks from public hearings, and discussion by a local advisory council, where applicable.
• Population density. Discuss the population density standard adopted in the sewer service area plan. The number of dwelling units per acre can be influenced by zoning ordinances, land availability, and past and anticipated development trends.
• "Infill" and "brown fields." The acreage allocation should include existing developable urban areas already served by utilities and service infrastructure. The area may have been by-passed by development or could be available for redevelopment. This type of land includes "brownfields," or commercial and industrial lands perceived to be unsuitable for new development due to past site contamination and concerns associated with property owner liabilities. These lands are often tax delinquent and vacant. Cost-effectiveness. Sewer service area plan development should discuss alternative land development costs as they relate to wastewater treatment and collection system design. The area wastewater facility plan may already include some of this information. Steep slope delineation. Steep slopes are defined as any slope or gradient equal to or greater than 12 percent and any soil type occurring on a slope equal to or greater than 12 percent. In general, steep slopes that are near surface waters should be excluded from sewered development areas. Steep slopes should be considered for environmentally sensitive area designation.

The acreage allocation for sewered development joins the other accumulated components of the planning process to establish the boundary for the community's sewered development. The plan's residential and commercial/industrial acreage allocation for sewered development should consider the following factors:

• Acreage allocation
  The acreage allocation is the product of the 20-year population projection and the locally adopted population density standard (number of units per acre). NR 121 requires an acreage allocation based on anticipated residential needs to determine the sewer service area delineation. Industrial/commercial development needs aren't addressed by the code; the acreage allocation for those uses is addressed separately.
• Population projections
  Population projections used in the sewer service area plan should be derived from data generated by the state Department of Administration - Demographics Services Center.
• Population density
  Discuss the population density standard adopted in the sewer service area plan. The number of dwelling units per acre can be influenced by zoning ordinances, land availability, and past and anticipated development trends.
• "Infill" and "brown fields"
  The acreage allocation should include existing developable urban areas already served by utilities and services infrastructure. The area may have been by-passed by development or possibly be an area available for redevelopment; this type of land includes "brownfields". Brownfields are commercial and industrial lands perceived to be unsuitable for new development due to past site contamination and concerns associated with property owner liabilities. These lands are often tax delinquent and vacant.
• Cost-effectiveness
  Sewer service area plan development should discuss alternative land development costs as they relate to wastewater treatment and collection system design, avoidance of major environmentally sensitive areas, and housing density standards. The area wastewater facility plan may already include some of this information.
• Market factor
  A "market factor" to anticipate the affect of local development trends or patterns on the sewer service area plan's acreage allocation is optional. Most plans make no mention, or only brief mention, of a multiplier, alleged to bring the 20-year sewer service area acreage allocation figure into a greater semblance of the real world real estate marketplace. The principle is that without the market factor, the plan assumes that every property included in the sewer service area acreage allocation is available and desirable for development. Proponents of a market factor feel a conservative acreage calculation doesn't allow flexibility for over-priced properties, properties not being placed on the market, or buyer whimsy. If department staff feels a market factor is too liberally or unreasonably used, a discussion with the water quality planning agency and the community representatives could appropriately emphasize the pros and cons of application of too liberal an acreage allocation.
• Population/density comments 
  Communities are free to determine their own population density standard, which can lend itself to being easily manipulated to obtain a greater residential area acreage allocation. NR 121 specifies the use of local accepted density standards and population projections in the development of a sewer service area acreage allocation.

Ensure adequate public Input

• For non-designated areas, a local advisory committee must be involved in the planning process. The plan should discuss the advisory committee's involvement in the planning process to assure that local input is present throughout the development of the plan.
• By-laws
  Optional operating guidelines for the local advisory committee.
• Public Hearing
• Discuss the input received through public participation at public hearings and meetings with the local advisory committee (for non-designated areas). Designated areas must have a minimum of one public hearing on areawide water quality management plans or plan revisions prior to local adoption/denial and prior to the plan being sent to the department for action.

Conformance Reviews (208 Letter)

• To install new sewer lines, a community needs a sewer extension "conformance letter" from the water quality planning agency, sometimes referred to as the water quality management (WQM) letter. The agency needs to determine that the proposed development lies within the sewer service area, but not within an environmentally sensitive area. After the community has received the conformance letter from the water quality planning agency, they send it to the DNR Bureau of Water Quality, Wastewater Program, for approval, along with proposed construction plans and specifications.
• The DNR, in adopting NR 110, Wis. Adm. Code, required that all facility plans and all plans and specifications for reviewable projects, including sewer extensions, must be in conformance with the areawide water quality management plans. In the event that a water quality planning agency could not perform the conformance review, the Bureau of Water Quality can perform that responsibility for the DNR.
• Certain plumbing plans submitted for state approval also to be in conformance with the areawide water quality management plan. Most new commercial buildings and apartments larger than a duplex fit into this category. Before the DSPS - Safety and Building Division can approve the plumbing plan, the contractor needs a conformance letter from the water quality planning agency stating that the proposed structure is within the sewer service area but not within an environmentally sensitive area.
• The environmentally sensitive areas shown on the sewer service area maps are a representation of the conditions at the time of map preparation, using the best available data. The map likely does not reflect field survey work that specific development proposals require. The presence and location of wetlands, navigable waters, floodways, floodplains and similar site features must be verified by field survey, and applicable permits must be obtained prior to any land disturbing activity -- preferably before the sewer service area plan amendment is submitted to the DNR, as staff will evaluate the navigability of any streams involved and whether or not a water quality certification is needed before promulgating an administrative decision.
• In the event of questions or controversy regarding an environmentally sensitive area delineation on a specific site, the department water resource planner or rivers and regulations administrator should participate in field work with the water quality planning agency, Army Corps of Engineers and city, county and/or DNR zoning administration staff, as appropriate. The plan should also clearly state that a site inspection takes precedence over the sewer service area map.

ESAs

Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs)

Section NR 121.05(1)(g)2c, Wis. Adm. Code, defines environmentally sensitive areas as: "major areas unsuitable for the installation of waste treatment systems because of physical or environmental constraints are to be excluded from the service area. Areas considered for exclusion from sewer service areas due to potential adverse impacts on water quality from both point or nonpoint source pollution include (but are not limited to) wetlands, shorelands, floodways and floodplains, steep slopes, highly erodible soils and other limiting soil types, groundwater recharge areas, and other such physical constraints."

The definition of environmentally sensitive areas in the SSA plan is critically important. These areas are are defined in the plan as well as rules and procedures for identifying necessary protections such as setbacks and storm water/groundwater or related water management actions. A sewer service area plan outlines sewer service for 20 year time horizons.

The DNR uses the term "environmentally sensitive areas" rather than the term "environmental corridors" principally due to the current inconsistent use of the term environmental corridors throughout the state. In addition, the term environment corridor confers the need for the subject resource to be linear or contiguous within the SSA; however, this contiguity is not required for the area to be sensitive and in need of protection under NR121 for maintenance of water quality. Though it is true that many environmentally sensitive areas are associated with rivers or streams, many wetlands, springs, hydric soils, steep slopes and groundwater recharge areas are not necessarily linear. Moreover, if environmentally sensitive upland areas should receive legislative authority for their protection, many of the upland areas would diverge from the linear corridor configuration.

Quick review of sensitive resources

• Threatened, rare or endangered species, habitats
  The DNR has an online tool to evaluate the location of sensitive species or habitat related to the Natural Heritage Inventory. This tool is available to municipalities and RPCs.
• Wetlands
  Wetlands are areas where water is at, near, or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and has soils indicative of wet conditions (NR 103, Wis. Adm. Code). All wetlands, including those identified in the Wisconsin Wetlands Inventory maps, should be identified as environmentally sensitive areas and excluded from sanitary sewer service areas.
• Groundwater
  Groundwater quantity and quality issues may factor heavily into complex hydrologic regimes involved in potentially developed areas. The greater use of land throughout the state, the more likelihood that groundwater issues may be a consideration in impacts to water quality from increased impervious surface areas and related storm water management issues.
• Springs
  Springs, or areas of land surface where groundwater provides baseflow to streams, feed wetlands, or provide ephemeral wet spots or hydric soils, are indicators of complex hydrologic regimes that should be factored into potential development areas.
• Shorelands
  Shorelands are lands within the following distances above the ordinary high-water mark of navigable waters: 1,000 feet from a lake, pond, or flowage and 300 feet from a river or stream to the landward side of the floodplain. Shorelands should be given high priority for protection from development, especially those shorelands adjacent to wetlands.
• Floodplains
  Floodplains are the land covered by floodwater during the regional 100 year flood. The floodplain includes the floodway and the flood fringe. The floodway is the channel of the river or stream and those portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel required to carry and discharge the flood waters or flood flows associated with the regional flood (NR115.03, Wis. Adm. Code). To prevent sewered development in areas prone to flooding, floodplains should be considered for exclusion from sanitary sewer service areas. DNR will not approve any plan or plan amendment that is not consistent with an approved county or state floodplain zoning ordinance.

Wetlands

• Definition - Wetlands are areas where water is at, near or above, the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and has soils indicative of wet conditions (NR 103, Wis. Adm. Code).
• Policy - All wetlands should be excluded from sanitary sewer service areas including wetlands identified in the Wisconsin Wetlands Inventory maps. Because Wetlands Maps are not updated (many are 20 years old), a certified wetland delineation may be required for activities. All wetlands are considered environmentally sensitive areas, along with an adequate buffer to protect the wetland, in areas where sanitary sewer service is considered. Amendments that would impact a wetland will be evaluated according to the following:
  • The presence or absence of physical alterations in the wetland resulting from human activity. Wetlands which have not been altered should be given high priority for preservation.
  • The availability of reasonable alternatives to development of the wetland. Where alternatives are available, wetlands should be protected from development.
  • The potential impacts of the proposed actions on other scarce natural resources in or outside of the wetland. Consideration should be for protection of the wetland when the area is or has been known to be a habitat for state or federally designated rare, threatened or endangered species; or where it is determined that the wetland type is scarce or rare either statewide or regionally.
  • Presence of or proximity to scientific study areas, sanctuaries and refuges. Direct or indirect adverse impacts in these areas should be evaluated when reviewing an amendment to the plan.
  • Effect on water quality of adjacent stream. Amendments should not result in an adverse effect on an adjacent stream. Such effects include interference with the maintenance of dry season stream flow; increasing sediment, nutrient or other pollutant loading to the stream and decreasing the in-stream plant and animal habitat conditions.

Floodplains

• Definition- The floodplain is the land calculated to be covered by floodwater during the regional (100-year) flood. The floodplain includes the floodway and the flood fringe.
  The floodway is the channel of the river or stream and those portions of the floodplain adjoining the channel required to carry and discharge the flood waters or flood flows associated with the regional flood (NR 116.03, Wis Adm. Code).
  Policy- To prevent sewered development in a high hazard area, floodplains should be considered for exclusion from sanitary service areas, and especially the floodway portion of the floodplain should not be included in a sewer service area, except where there is an existing development that must be served.
  Sewer Service Area Plans and Plan Amendments- The Department will not approve any plan or plan amendment that is not consistent with an approved county or state floodplain zoning ordinance or which will allow new service to new development in the floodway. In addition, the plans or plan amendments should be evaluated considering the following:
  • Floodwater conveyance capacity. Amendments or plans which would result in a reduction of the floodwater conveyance capacity should be denied unless remedial actions are identified and approved before approval of the amendment or plan. Remedial actions must conform with NR 116.
  • Existing development within the floodway. When there is an existing, lawful development within the floodway, a new plan or plan amendment may include the development within the boundaries of its proposed service area.
  • Storm and flood water storage capacity. Amendments which would result in a reduction in storm and flood water storage capacity should be avoided or remedial actions should be identified.

Shorelands

• Definition - Shorelands are lands within the following distances above the ordinary high-water mark of navigable waters: 1,000 feet from a lake, pond or flowage and 300 feet from a river or stream to the landward side of the floodplain.
  Policy - Shorelands represent environmental features which should be given high priority for protection from development, and particularly those shorelands which coincide with wetlands as identified in the Wisconsin Wetlands Inventory maps.
  Sewer Service Area Plans and Plan Amendments - The DNR will not approve any plan or plan amendment that is not consistent with an approved county or state shoreland zoning ordinance. Additionally, evaluation of plan amendments will consider the following:
  • Potential adverse water quality impacts. In assessing plan amendments the DNR will consider adverse impacts upon any of the following: maintenance of dry season stream flow, or the discharge, recharge or flow of groundwater from a wetland;
  • filtering or storage of sediments, nutrients or heavy metals that would otherwise drain into navigable waters;
  • shoreline protection against erosion to reduce the flow of effluent, sediment and nutrients from the shoreland area.
  • Potential adverse effects on habitats. Amendments in which the proposed activity could adversely disrupt fish and wildlife habitat should include protective measures.
  • Storm and flood water storage capacity. Amendments which would result in a reduction of storm and flood water storage capacity should be avoided or remedial actions should be identified.
  • Presence of, or proximity to, scientific study areas, sanctuaries and refuges, or scarce wetland areas. Consideration should be given to direct or indirect adverse impacts in these areas.

Steep slopes and highly erodible soils

• Definition - This category is defined as any slope or gradient equal to or greater than 12 percent and any soil type occurring on a slope equal to or greater than 12 percent.
  Policy - In general, slopes equal to or greater than 12 percent, regardless of the soil type, and which are near surface waters should be excluded from sewered development areas. Steep slopes in combination with other environmental features should also be considered for designation as an environmentally sensitive area.
• Sewer Service Areas Plans and Plan Amendments - sewer service area plans should exclude steep slopes greater than 12 percent, which are near a stream, from sanitary sewer service. Where a local construction erosion control ordinance exists, the plan should be consistent with the slope restrictions of the ordinance. Amendments to the sewer service area plan should consider the following.
  • Proximity of the slope to a stream. Amendments for sewered development on steep slopes which would result in direct runoff into a stream should be prohibited, or mitigation measures required for the protection of water quality.
  • Amendments to allow sewered development on slopes should be the most cost-effective alternative and should be consistent with the existing development pattern and locally approved construction erosion control ordinances.

Other limiting physical features

Definition: Other limiting features to development of sewered service include:

• shallow depth to groundwater and/or bedrock (groundwater recharge/discharge areas);
• physical features which may have a significant local or statewide importance such as springs, rare woodlands or plant stands of rare or endangered species;
• rare or endangered animal habitats;
• historical or archaeological sites.
• This list includes any sensitive environmental feature that could benefit from protective measures. This definition can include discrete areas of natural resources, and scenic and recreational resource amenities that are critical to maintaining water quality and quantity. They also provide habitat and linkages that are essential for protection of biological diversity and are often associated with rivers and streams.
• Policy - Areas that include one or more of the above features should be considered for environmentally sensitive area designation if it represents an integral part of the stream drainage area.
• Sewer Service Area Plans and Plan Amendments - In the preparation of service area plans, appropriate state or local offices (e.g., State Historical Society, DNR Endangered Resources (or equivalent)) should be contacted to determine if any of these features are present in the planning area. Areas containing these features may be excluded from sanitary sewer service. Plan amendment requests to provide sanitary sewer service to an area with any of these features should be the alternative with the least disruption of the environment and should include remedial measures to provide maximum protection of adjacent water resources.

Variations from code

• There are environmentally sensitive areas that do not have a direct relationship to water quality protection, such as some upland woods and there are areas that normally are not delineated environmentally sensitive yet they potentially have a direct relationship to water quality, such as wellhead protection zones. There is no objection to including these areas in the sewer service area plan's environmentally sensitive areas; in fact their protection is encouraged. But the local community(s) should develop or plan to develop appropriate "conservancy" or review/regulatory authority or identify what local mechanisms are available to protect environmentally sensitive areas. This same concept holds with storm water controls that go beyond state standards; the state will not preclude the community from protecting their resources but can not enforce their implementation, which must be done locally. NR 121 does not provide authority to require protection of areas that are protected based on criteria other than water quality maintenance.
• Parks - The plan should consider including existing and future parks into the environmental corridors system. The community could, at its prerogative, designate other "conservancy zone areas," including parklands, woodlands and historic sites as environmentally sensitive areas.
• Local water quality assessment - The assessment can help identify the environmentally sensitive areas to be excluded from the sewer service area.

Plan Updates

Plan Updates

Sewer service area plan approvals are formal amendments to the state's Areawide Water Quality Management Plan. Plan and plan amendments, once approved by the local community are forwarded to the DNR for administrative decision to update the state's AWQM Plan. These decisions are based on the elements and considerations outlined in NR 121, Wis. Adm. Code. Annually DNR transmits updates to the EPA for certification as an amendment to the state's WQM Plan. Each sewer service area program is developed locally, with specific procedures, criteria and review processes customized and documented in the respective SSA Plan. Generalized answers to common questions are listed below.

What degree of water quality protection does SSA planning authorize?

• The legal authority for sewer service area planning is derived from federal and state water pollution control legislation. The best assurance for the State of Wisconsin meeting these water quality goals is to prevent our groundwater and surface water from becoming polluted in the first place. Sewer service area planning helps preserve clean water by preventing sewered development in environmentally sensitive areas where it would cause adverse impacts to the waters of the state. The decision to approve or disapprove a sewer service area plan or amendment needs to be based on whether environmentally sensitive areas in the planning boundary are accurately delineated and protected against adverse water quality impacts.
• There is good scientific data and a regulatory history to support floodplain, shoreland and wetland zoning prohibition on most development in those environmentally sensitive areas. There are also a number of sewer service area plans that include steep slopes of generally greater than 12% and highly erodible soils in the environmentally sensitive areas designation, especially where they may adjoin shoreland corridors or wetlands.
• Additional considerations for water quality protection include providing a buffer for environmentally sensitive features, which specifies the land area between the sensitive feature and potential development that may take place. Providing a buffer helps ensure that water quality impacts will not occur from future development - not notably sewerline construction and construction site erosion.
• The department can withdraw past sewer service area plan approvals for an area when new information indicates that sewered development will have significant adverse impacts on water quality. However, addressing the cumulative adverse impact that ongoing development has on effective storm water management, for example, is an area that challenges the limits of our legal authority. The DNR may develop water quality protection guidelines based on a water quality framework specifically adapted for a particular stream classification (See below: When Is Conditional Approval Appropriate? ). At the very least, the DNR must note when ongoing water quality issues exist in a sewer service area, such as wetland mitigation projects, nonpoint source projects or lake protection grant projects. Thus, water quality protection is the sum of:
  • properly identifying environmentally sensitive areas
  • identifying and delineating locally defined buffers for those areas
  • clearly defining the plan's growth strategy
  • establishing the sewer service area boundary
  • establishing procedures for documenting potential impacts of amendments on water quality
  • implementing the plan with a high level of coordination and cooperation among environmental, development and planning agencies and interests.

What is a CWA section 208 conformance review?

• Often the delegated or contractual planning agency in nondesignated areas and the designated planning agency in designated areas provides a review of local sewer extension plans and specifications to determine if the plans are in accordance with the goals and objectives of the area's "208 plan", or in nondesignated areas, the areawide water quality management plan or basin plan. Note that the basin includes the actual plan and any amendments, including nonpoint source priority watershed plans, remedial action plans, other sewer service area plans, storm water or erosion control plans recommended by the basin plans and co-funded by the state, as well as other plans recommended by the basin plan and funded by the state. These plans, cumulatively, should provide the parameters through which conformance reviews should be conducted.
• More specifically, if a sewer line is planned to cross valuable wetlands in an area funded for priority watershed project implementation and one of the goals of the priority watershed project is to maintain and restore wetlands in the watershed, the conformance review should involve an assessment of what the sewerline's impact on that goal will be. The conformance review process may recommend changes to the initial plans and specifications to avoid crossing wetlands in these sensitive areas. This type of pro-active evaluation at the local level will help avoid costly reviews and delays at the state level.

When is conditional SSA plan approval used?

• Resource managers evaluating a site can use various plans to help them determine whether requiring specific conditions, or prohibiting sewered development, is necessary to protect water quality. Plans to reference can include the areawide water quality management plan, sewer service area plan, storm water management plan, fisheries plan and nonpoint source priority watershed plan. However, approval or denial of a sewer service area plan can not be based solely on compliance with the recommendation(s) of any of the above mentioned plans. Plan approval or denial should be based on water quality protection. The water quality basis for decisions must be found in NR 121.
• NR 121.05(1)(g)2.c. "Major areas unsuitable for the installation of waste treatment systems because of physical or environmental constraints are to be excluded from the service area. Areas to be considered for exclusion from the sewer service area because of the potential for adverse impacts on the quality of the waters of the state from both point and nonpoint sources of pollution include but are not limited to wetlands, shorelands, floodways and floodplains, steep slopes, highly erodible soils and other limiting soil types, groundwater recharge areas, and other such physical constraints."
• If a site evaluation should find environmentally sensitive areas that, though not delineated, are determined to fit the NR 121 definition above, then conditions to protect water quality could be added to the department sewer service area plan decision letter. The condition needs to be the difference between whether or not the area is suitable for development. Please note, the code makes no indication that the size of the water resource feature is critical to its qualification for water quality protection.

Can development occur in environmentally sensitive areas?

• A sewer service area plan regulates only sewered development. Its authority does not prohibit unsewered development from occurring in environmentally sensitive areas (though these areas may be regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or other agencies). From time-to-time, however, sewer service area plans or amendments are proposed that would remove land from the environmentally sensitive areas designation, possibly allowing sewered development with potential adverse water quality impact. Development in certain areas may require a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit or a Wis. State Stats. Chapter 30 permit and an accompanying 'water quality certification' that the proposed action complies with NR103.
• Lands removed from an environmentally sensitive areas designation should not include any areas with development constraints that would adversely impact ground water or surface water quality. For example, an amendment that removes wetlands from an environmentally sensitive area will not be approved unless it is shown that fill for development of the proposed site has received a valid federal permit and wetland water quality certification.
• Sewer service area amendments must be approved by the department before the water quality planning agency can write a sewer service area plan conformance letter for a sewer extension in the area.
• Environmentally sensitive area delineations sometimes include features that are not water quality related, so not every environmentally sensitive area development proposal will require a permit. The department has approved amendments to remove land not associated with water from the environmentally sensitive area designation, such as some parks and historic sites. Removal of any area from the environmentally sensitive area designation should go through the department review process; however, areas that do not involve a water quality concern will generally be processed faster than those which require a permit.
• Although a proposal to develop in an environmentally sensitive area is most likely to arise within the context of an amendment, a new plan or plan update could subtlety achieve the same result by excluding certain environmentally sensitive lands from the designation. Policies developed for delineating environmentally sensitive areas and policies for the amendment review process (i.e.,, minor versus major amendments) can have separate administrative decisions. For example, a sewer service area plan or plan update can be approved for the land area separate from the administrative decision for the associated policies. DNR can promulgate an administrative decision on the plan's policies at a later time, after the amendment has been processed, to affect all areas not yet platted in the sewer service area boundary.
• Under the provisions of NR 121, environmentally sensitive areas are delineated to protect lands where sewered development would adversely affect water quality. And as mentioned above, environmentally sensitive area designations may protect additional features as well. Environmentally sensitive areas are determined with the aid of the following sources:
  • Wisconsin Wetlands Inventory photo maps
  • County soil surveys
  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soils maps, alias SCS
  • Topography maps
  • Shoreland zones or navigable water corridors
  • Floodplains and/or floodway maps
  • Field inspections
  • Literature on buffers for water quality protection
• Since the environmentally sensitive areas review is completed as part of the initial sewer service area plan, a separate review is not generally performed again for amendments. However, the accuracy of new sensitive areas delineations should be consistent with, or have finer-scale accuracy over, the initial plan. Environmentally sensitive areas that may be affected by development proposals should be reviewed through field inspections when actual development and/or amendments arise.
• Coordinate with Permit staff for environmentally sensitive area development proposals to fill, dredge, or modify lands within the wetland/shoreland zone. The water quality certification process applies to both Section 404 Clean Water Act and Wis. State Stats. Ch. 30 permit applications. Check also with the Wastewater Management Program for coordination with possible facility planning in progress. Through good communication, and by providing the opportunity for public input, the local water quality planning agency and the department may be in agreement on the recommendation and the decision for each sewer service area plan, updated and amendment.

What SSA amendment requests are allowed?

Amendment procedures - Every plan needs an amendment procedure section to addresses the different types of plan amendments that will be considered. Possible amendment requests include:

1. Sewer service area "swaps" add and delete equal areas of land in the sewer service area boundary for no net increase in the sewer service area acreage.
2. Documented "population projection adjustments" are a response to unanticipated growth, or other changes, in the 20-year sewered development plan.
3. A change to the locally approved population density standard.
4. The "unique" amendment procedure allows for sewer to the occasional unanticipated public park rest room, or new factory just outside of town.
5. "Existing development" areas (and particularly those that suffer from failing onsite septic systems), can be added to the sewer service area plan if it's shown to be the cost-effective wastewater treatment alternative.
6. Redesignation of "environmental corridor" boundaries may be allowed if all applicable environmental permits are granted and it's determined that no significant adverse water quality impact is created.

Some planning agencies have proposed the use of 'Minor' versus 'Major' Amendments. The use of minor amendments is appropriate if the subject of the minor amendment involves a previously approved action by the department, such as a revision to floodplain maps (FEMA) or Wisconsin Wetland Inventory Maps. Use of a minor amendment is also appropriate for instances in which a stream crossing is involved in installation of necessary utilities. However, use of the minor amendment process, which often involves only the local planning agency and little or no notification of the change to the DNR, is inappropriate for changes to environmentally sensitive area designations other than for those reasons mentioned above. The Dane County Regional Planning Department (now Capital Area Regional Planning Commission) developed a document that outlines the minor versus major amendment process for environmentally sensitive areas; DNR supports the set of definitions Dane County has developed.

What are the SSA amendment procedures?

A sewer service area plan amendment should be sponsored or initiated by either the area water quality planning agency, the local designated management area (DMA) that serves the area, or an entity seeking DMA status (e.g., a previously unsewered sanitary district). Amendments requested by private parties should be channeled through the appropriate local agency. A letter to the water quality planning agency with all the accompanying information necessary to determine the amendment's impact on water quality will start the procedure. It should include the following documentation:

1. Geographical location of the area, including the section, township and range, community, and county.
2. A map of the proposed amendment area (and area to be deleted if it's a "swap amendment"), showing its relationship to the existing sewer service area boundary, or location of lands designated as environmentally sensitive areas that will be excluded from sewered development. Environmentally sensitive areas should include wetlands, shorelands, floodplains or floodways, steep slopes and other areas as determined by the sewer service area plan. Maps should have adequate detail to precisely identify boundaries.
3. Description of existing and proposed land uses, population, wastewater generation and means of collection from the area. The applicant should include information indicating how the proposal relates to any adopted community land use plan(s), Department of Administration (DOA) accepted population projections, and wastewater treatment plant capabilities. Wastewater treatment alternatives and analysis of their capital and operating costs should also be discussed.
4. A storm water management plan for the area may be required when the development's impact would create an adverse water quality impact - either a local impact or contributions to a cumulative impact.
5. Documentation that all property owners in areas proposed to be deleted (swapped) from the sewer service area were notified of this request.
6. A copy of the public meeting announcement and a brief summary of the views expressed at the meeting(s).
7. A copy of the resolution adopted by the water quality planning agency, recommending approval of the plan amendment to the DNR.
8. Other sewer service area plan amendment requirements as negotiated between the Department and the local water quality management agency.

The water quality planning agency may request additional information from the applicant or consult with others to obtain information related to the need and impacts of the proposed change as necessary to conduct a complete analysis of the amendment request. Following a public meeting, the local agency, usually the regional planning commission, makes a decision to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the amendment request, utilizing their local review criterion (see Amendment Review Criteria below), and they forward their decision to the DNR.

When the department regional and central offices receive the water quality management agency letter of decision on the amendment, including their staff analysis and the information that had been submitted by the DMA, it is reviewed for conformance with NR 121. The department decision on the sewer service area plan is based on whether or not the amendment presents any significant adverse water quality impacts.

What are the amendment review criteria?

Water quality protection criteria, such as those that follow, need to be adopted to evaluate future plan amendments. And be sure that the plan itself also meets its own criteria.

Most of the following amendment review criteria are from East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (ECRPC) sewer service area plans. Sewer service area amendment approval may include conditions if they are necessary to protect water quality.

1. The amendment should be cost-effective compared to other waste treatment alternatives. This analysis may be required from the applicant.
2. The environmental impacts may be assessed in accordance with the criteria established in the DNR environmental assessment checklist.
3. The water quality planning agency will provide a water quality impact assessment. Areas unsuitable for development (environmentally sensitive areas), must be identified and excluded from sewered development.
4. The wastewater treatment and collection systems will be evaluated for their capacity and ability to handle and treat projected flows.
5. At the option of the local community, the amendments may require consistency with locally adopted land use/transportation plans.
6. Amendments shall have a common boundary with the current sewer service area and shall not create a void within the service area. Satellite sewer service areas extended to serve an existing development that has failing onsite sewage systems may be an exception to this criteria.
7. Resource managers evaluating a site can use various plans to help them determine whether requiring specific conditions, or prohibiting sewered development, is necessary to protect water quality. Plans to reference can include the areawide water quality management plan, the existing sewer service area plan, storm water management plans, fisheries plans and nonpoint source priority watershed plans.

What are SSA plan updates?

NR 121 calls for sewer service area plan status review and a possible plan update requirement every five years. Frequent sewer service area plan amendments or a community land use plan update are other signals that a plan update is probably in order.

What if there is opposition to a proposed amendment?

If the DNR receives written opposition to a proposed sewer service area plan or amendment from an affected DMA the department may conduct the following review procedure.

1. After a thorough evaluation of the sewer service area plan or amendment the DNR will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) of the proposal.
2. A copy of the assessment will be available for public review and comments. A news release will be issued announcing the availability of this assessment.
3. A public informational meeting may also be held to allow public input on the proposed amendment. A decision on the need for a meeting will be made after the department considers all comments, including the comments on the EA.
4. The department will make a final decision on the sewer service area amendment after reviewing all the comments received through the EA process or the public meeting, if held. Any subsequent conformance reviews will be based on the amended plan.

What is the decision appeal procedure?

The department will accept a DMA appeal of an amendment proposal that has been denied by a water quality planning agency. The department does not accept revisions or personal appeals submitted by developers, individuals or other organizations. Any person aggrieved by a department water quality management plan decision has the right to file a judicial appeal of the decision. Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code establish time periods within which requests to review department decisions must be filed. For judicial review of a decision pursuant to s. 227.52 and 227.53, Wisconsin Statutes, a petition for review must be filed within 30 days after service of the decision. The respondent in an action for judicial review is the department.

How will the plan be implemented?

Who's involved in implementation and what do they do? The parties involved in developing a sewer service area plan must clearly identify the steps to be taken to implement the plan. After the plan is approved, the day-to-day implementation begins. Implementation responsibilities are carried out by the various local governmental units involved, the water quality planning agency, DNR and the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS). Such a cooperative effort will assure that the recommendations contained within the plan are carried out and that the goals and objectives identified in the plan are not circumvented.

Water quality planning agency responsibilities

The water quality planning agency may be a designated planning agency like the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC) or a contractual planning agency. The plan should discuss how the agency will review sewer service area plan amendments, sewer extension requests, certain plumbing plans needing state approval for conformance with the water quality management plan, and holding tank septage assignments to the sewer service area wastewater treatment plant.

Participants

Who Participates in SSA Planning?

In "designated" planning areas the agency conducting the water quality planning has been designated by the governor. In "non-designated" areas of the state, the Department contracts with others to act as the DNR agent for sewer service area water quality protection work. This is usually the regional planning commission for the area or a city or county planning department. In either case, these agents are the water quality planning agency and their job is to develop the sewer service area plan, analyze amendments, and often conduct reviews of sewer extensions and plumbing plans for conformance with the Areawide Water Quality Management Plan (AWQMP), of which the sewer service area plan is one component.

Occasionally, the water quality planning agency responsibilities are split. A wide variety of administrative assignments, subject to DNR approval, are possible among the entities involved in the planning process.

Are local advisory committees mandatory?

Development of local advisory committees is not mandatory within designated AWQMP areas but is required in non-designated areas (NR121.05(1)(g)4.b.). The local advisory committee helps create a community ownership of the plan and provides assurance that the public has participated in the planning process. An advisory committee provides a good working forum for long-range planning and intergovernmental cooperation. The advisory committee is often comprised of community representatives, the planning agency, and DNR staff. Some advisory committees have chosen to outline their responsibilities through the adoption of committee by-laws. That's an option a community can consider.

Although designated AWQMP agencies aren't required to develop plans with advisory committee input, they work with the DMA(s) who own the sewage systems and are required to hold at least one public hearing.

Sewer service area plans or amendments can be initiated by the designated management agency, an entity seeking designated management agency status, a designated planning agency, or the department. An entity seeking designated management agency status must be within the sewer service area boundary. Individuals who desire an amendment to the sewer service area plan should see their designated management agency.

Who should be represented on a local advisory committee?

A local advisory committee should have broad representation including the designated management agencies, city council(s), village board(s), town sanitary district(s), and others from throughout the planning area. The planning agency (generally a regional or county planning agency), guides the committee, with department oversight, from the development of land use goals and objectives, to the identification of environmentally sensitive lands and population growth projections. Together, by group effort, a 20-year sewer service area plan is developed that defines the amount and location of land appropriate for sewered development and those not appropriate, i.e. environmentally sensitive areas. The DNR works with the local committee and the planning agency throughout the planning process and has final plan approval authority.

Contacts

Program contacts and submittals

• Sewer area plan submittals: Gunilla Goulding
• Water quality monitoring and planning: Tim Asplund
• Wastewater program manager: Brett Schmidt (Acting)
• Sewer extension intake: Alexa Mydlach
• Facility plan review program contacts
• Water quality management planning and continuous planning
• Plan submittal requirements for municipal and industrial sewerage systems