1.5.2  Sewer Service Area Plans

Sewer service area planning is a water pollution control planning process required by the Federal Clean Water Act and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources under Chapter NR 121 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. This requires every community with sanitary sewer service within designated water quality planning areas (Southeastern Wisconsin, Dane County, and the Fox Valley) and other communities with populations larger than 10,000, to develop 20-year plans to guide sewered development and prevent water pollution associated with such development.

Currently over 250 cities, villages and towns have sewer service area plans. The plans are prepared by a regional planning commission or a local planning authority. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approves the final plan. Once approved, new development must occur within the planned sewer service area. The plans also designate environmentally sensitive areas where sewered development will not occur.