For sewer emergencies, call 319-356-5177.

The Wastewater Division maintains and operates an advanced treatment plant at 4366 Napoleon Street SE, 17 lift stations, and 300 miles of sanitary sewer piping throughout Iowa City. The Treatment Plant processed an average of 9.66 million gallons of wastewater per day in 2014.

Staff measures and reports daily on 13 different parameters to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for both influent and effluent. Other major work elements include maintenance and operation of the treatment plant facility, lift stations, and equipment; sewer main repairs and preventative maintenance, line cleaning and inspection and 24/7 response to emergency sewer calls. Staffing is seven days per week for operations staff. Administrative, plant and collections maintenance staff are on duty five days/week.

The Wastewater Treatment Plant was expanded in 2014 to accommodate biological removal of two key nutrients, total nitrogen and total phosphorus. The expansion enables the plant to comply with the State’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy and provides for future capacity for residential and industrial customers. The design treatment capacity of the facility is 24.2 million gallons per day (mgd), with a maximum daily capacity up to 43.3 mgd.

Service Line Warranty

A property's water service line runs from the City-owned water main to your home's plumbing fixtures: sinks, baths, showers, toilets. A water service line is the property of the homeowner, meaning replacement would be at the cost of the homeowner. The optional insurance program from Service Line Warranties of America (SLWA) is now open for enrollment by Iowa City residents.

Those interested can visit their website or call 1-866-922-9006. Residents are also encouraged to ask their homeowner’s insurance provider about service line insurance products before purchasing a new insurance product.

The Iowa City Wastewater Division is participating in a public health study, in partnership with various organizations, to monitor pathogens in wastewater influent at a local level. The study aims to validate tests for detecting viral and bacterial DNA and RNA, providing valuable data for researchers. Access the Iowa City wastewater data dashboard for more information.

Flushable Wipes

Marketed as flushable, this popular hygiene product has the potential to cause huge problems at the expense of taxpayer dollars. Watch this short video to learn why these wipes don't break down the same way toilet paper does, as well as the costly damage they can cause to our wastewater system.

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