Find the existing Sewer Use Ordinance (SUO), the Sewer Use Ordinance 2026 Update, and a full summary of 2026 revisions at madsewer.org/2026suo.
Chapter 1: General Provisions
Revisions made to Section 1.4. Right of Entry and Access to clarify the right of access for District representatives.
Chapter 2: Definitions
The revisions made to this chapter were largely made to provide greater clarity for SUO users. Definition additions/changes of note:
- Effluent: This definition was previously absent from the SUO.
- Infectious Wastes: This definition was added to enable the District to better regulate infectious wastes that could impact District treatment processes and operations.
- Interference: This definition was revised to align with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s definition with respect to pretreatment regulations.
Chapter 3: Territory of the District
Minor revisions were made to this chapter to provide clarity and align with current practice and statutes.
- Section 3.2. Annexation of Territory Upon Notice of Communities Within the District: Revisions were made to clarify the notice process.
- Section 3.3. Annexation of Territory Upon Petition or Motion: Revisions were made for clarification.
- Section 3.4 Costs: Revisions were made to align the SUO with current District practices and terminology.
Chapter 4: Construction and Operation of Community Sewers
There were numerous changes in this chapter, all intended to streamline and provide better information to customer communities and the District about sewer users.
- Section 4.2. Approval of Community Sewers: Revised to streamline, clarify and align the information with current District practices.
- Section 4.3.1. Approval of Connections to Community Sewers: Revisions were made to enable the District to better collect information on new or changing businesses located in customer communities. The District has historically had requirements for the provision of this information, but has found it challenging to ensure it is actually supplied.
- This information is critical for the District, and we will be looking to streamline reporting of this type of information with the next SUO update.
- Section 4.3.2. Approval of Community Sewer Connections to District Interceptor Sewers: Revision made to clarify that the District has the authority to impose direct connection fees for connections to intercepting sewers.
- Section 4.3.4. Connection Charges: Revisions made to clarify the timing of payment for connection charges.
- Section 4.7.1. Fats, Oil, Grease, and Sand Interceptors: Revisions were made to clarify that customer communities should require interceptors for food service establishments, among other businesses, to protect District facilities from fats, oils and grease (FOG). Revisions were also made to clarify that these types of wastes are not to be discharged into the sewerage system but may be sent to the treatment plant as hauled waste under the provisions of Chapter 8.
- A future SUO update will contain stronger restrictions on FOGs, including reporting obligations and specific prohibitions. The State of Wisconsin already has stronger restrictions, but the District opted to delay inclusion of this in the 2026 SUO update to complete preparatory work and outreach with communities.
- Section 4.7.2. Chloride Reduction: Revisions were made to align with Wis. Admin. Code NR 106.90 and clarify the timing of reporting obligations. Customer communities should specifically note point iii. in sub-section (a), which was updated to require specific information related to wash water and truck maintenance discharges from road salt storage or truck loading areas that drain to community sewers. This had already been the District’s practice to comply with its chloride variance.
Chapter 5: Limitations on Discharges to the Sewers Applicable to All Users
- Section 5.1. General Limitations on Discharge Characteristics: Revisions were made to clarify the District’s ability to prohibit certain discharges to ensure it can protect its wastewater treatment facilities, operations, and processes, meet permit requirements and federal, state, and local requirements, and protect the environment and public health with respect to its effluent. These revisions include specific references to state and federal code to protect the District’s beneficial reuse of its biosolids.
- Section 5.2. Prohibited Discharges: Similar to Section 5.1, revisions made are intended to clarify the District’s ability to prohibit certain discharges (see this section for the full list) that the District believes could be problematic to its wastewater treatment facilities, operations, and processes, or its ability to meet permit requirements and federal, state, and local requirements and protect the environment and public health with respect to its effluent and biosolids.
- Section 5.2.3. Local Limitations: This section was retitled from “Additional Prohibitions for Industrial Users,” and language was added specifying that the District can incorporate best management practices and/or more stringent local limitations, standards, or requirements on discharges to the sewerage system in individual permits or on a case-by-case basis.
Chapter 6: Pretreatment Requirements and Obligations for SIUs
Changes in this chapter update, realign and clarify previously existing language.
- Section 6.1. Determination of Significant Industrial Users (SIUs): References to specific applicable state administrative code requirements were added.
- Section 6.3. Pretreatment Facilities: This section was updated to clarify the District’s ability to require the implementation of pretreatment facilities and approval requirements for such facilities.
- Section 6.7. Bypass Provisions: This section was reorganized for clarification and ease of reference. No substantive changes made.
- Section 6.9. Violations of Pretreatment Requirements: This section was updated to clarify that enforcement under Chapter 11 and the District’s Enforcement Response Plan may be applicable.
Chapter 7: Requirements for Certain Commercial and Industrial Users
- Section 7.1. Discharges from Dental Clinics: Extensive revisions were made to this section to align requirements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s dental amalgam rule promulgated at 40 CFR Part 441 in 2017. Importantly, these updates reflect the District’s practice since the rule was adopted.
- Section 7.2. Special Permits for Commercial or Industrial Users: Language in this section was revised for clarity and specifically to clarify the District’s authority to require permits in circumstances where a discharger may impact the District’s biosolids reuse. In addition, a subsection was removed as it was addressed elsewhere in the ordinance.
Chapter 8: Permits to Discharge Septage and Other Wastes
Some information was reorganized or consolidated for clarity, and headings were added for consistency. Other revisions are non-substantive, except:
- 8.5.1. When Permits Not Required: Subsection (c) was removed, which stated that a permit was not necessary for temporary actions resulting from analytical activities.
Chapter 9: Service Charges
No revisions made.
Chapter 10: Billing and Collection
Section 10.1. Billing and Payment: The payment due date was revised to reflect current practice.
Chapter 11: Enforcement and Abatement
No substantive revisions. Subheadings added throughout for clarity.
