A sewer use ordinance (SUO) is a set of local rules that legally regulate the use of a public sewer system.
- It allows the District to implement its authority over our sewerage system facilities.
- Its goal is to protect public health, environmental quality, and our wastewater treatment and conveyance facilities.
- It is adopted pursuant to and in implementation of Wis. Stat. §§ 200.11(1)(d) and 200.13(3).
What the SUO governs
A SUO covers numerous topics, but in short, it:
- Specifies the types of wastes that cannot be discharged into the sewerage system;
- Imposes requirements on industrial wastewater dischargers;
- Provides a mechanism for issuing permits and allowing connections to our system; and
- Enables the District to comply with administrative provisions, water quality requirements, pretreatment effluent standards, and other discharge criteria that are required or authorized by the State of Wisconsin or federal law.
Why the District’s SUO was updated
SUOs should be updated regularly to reflect changes in state and federal law or guidance, incorporate updated best practices, and address necessary edits and clarifications. Before this 2026 update, the District’s SUO had not received a holistic review and update in over 10 years.
Moving forward, the District’s SUO will be on a three-year review and update cycle.
SUO updates for 2026
For 2026, the changes made largely reflect updates required to bring the District’s SUO in line with current statutes and regulatory requirements, and provide clarity on terminology, practices and processes. The changes fall into four general categories:
- Language was updated with current statutory and regulatory requirements
- Example: Requirements for dental clinics (SUO Section 4.7.1) were updated to reflect EPA requirements that have been in effect promulgated in 2017 that the District has already implemented.
- Reporting obligations were streamlined and clarified
- Example: Chloride reporting requirements (SUO Section 4.7.2) were revised to ensure alignment with requirements under Wis. Admin. Code NR 106.90 and clarify timing for reporting obligations.
- Protections for District infrastructure and processes were increased
- Example: A prohibition was added on the discharge of substances to the sewerage system that would inhibit the use of the District’s UV disinfection system.
- Definitions in the document were clarified
For a chapter-level summary of changes, please see Summary of District Sewer Use Ordinance 2026 Update Revisions.
Future update topics
There are a few key topics that the District opted not to update in the 2026 SUO. Those include:
- Fats, oils and grease (FOGs)
- Additional chloride reporting
- Inflow & infiltration
The District needs to strengthen requirements in these areas to meet regulatory requirements and protect infrastructure. However, we also understand the need to communicate with and solicit feedback from impacted parties as applicable. We will be working on a plan to address these issues and plan for outreach.
