How to Pay Your Elkhart Public Utility Bill Online

Combined Sewer Overflow Public Notices

As required by law, any permittees authorized to discharge a CSO to the Great Lakes Basin shall make available to the public an annual notice describing the CSO discharges from its discharge points that occurred in the previous calendar year. To meet this requirement, the City of Elkhart has compiled several documents and sources of data for the public to access. The required Public Notification and the associated documents are provided below.

The city is submitting a Notice of Intent to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management of our intent to comply with the requirements of the CSGP to discharge storm water from construction activities associated with the CSO 39 Sewer Separation Project located at the intersection of Vistula and High St. Run-off from the project site will discharge to the St Joseph River. Questions or comments regarding this project should be directed to Public Works at (574) 293-2572.

All of the City of Elkhart’s drinking water is supplied from groundwater. This groundwater comes from several hundred feet below ground. The water is pumped to the surface, treated, and sent to City water customers. Three wellfields, the North Main Street Wellfield, the South Wellfield and the Northwest Wellfield provide the water supply for the City of Elkhart.

Annually, 2.97 billion gallons of safe drinking water is supplied to Elkhart customers through 346 miles of water mains.

Groundwater comes from rain, snow, sleet, and hail that soaks into the ground. The water moves down into the ground passing between particles of soil, sand, gravel, or rock until it reaches a depth where the ground is filled, or saturated, with water called the saturated zone and the top of this zone is called the water table. The water table may be very near the ground’s surface or it may be hundreds of feet below.

Most groundwater is clean, but groundwater can become polluted, or contaminated. It can become polluted from leaky underground tanks, leaky landfills, or when people apply too much fertilizer or pesticides on their fields or lawns. When pollutants leak, spill, or are dumped on the ground they can move through the soil. Groundwater pollution is generally difficult and expensive to clean up.

It is up to each of us to make sure we have clean and safe water to drink!

Annual Water Quality Report (also known as Consumer Confidence Report)

The City is firmly committed to providing water that meets all regulatory requirements for quality and our citizens’ expectations. The US Environmental Protection Agency requires that public drinking water systems provide information to the community describing efforts to protect groundwater, any regulated substances found in the water and an explanation of potential contaminants. Annual water quality reports are sent out by the first part of June every year, for the previous year, and can also be accessed by clicking on the following link.

Master Plan

Elkhart has developed a Water Master Plan to identify the necessary capital improvements to ensure adequate water supply, storage, treatment and distribution for the next ten years. For more information on the plan please call (574) 293-2572.

Understanding the Potential for Lead in Drinking Water

The City of Elkhart Public Works and Utilities has had no violations of state or federal requirements for lead in drinking water. Please visit our website at https://lead-service-line-inventory-elkhart.hub.arcgis.com/ to learn more about lead in drinking water and view the map of service line materials for the City of Elkhart.

Understanding PFAS

Please visit our page at https://elkhartindiana.org/pfas/ to learn more about PFAS.

Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention

Cross connections are actual or potential connections between the water that the City distributes to customers and any possible sources of contamination if backflow, the flow of water in pipes reversing due to pressure or siphonage, occurred. Examples of cross connections include irrigation sprinkler heads sitting in puddles of water, a pool or tank with a filler below the water level, an incorrectly installed booster pump, or fire systems with water sitting in lines. Backflow can result in a potentially serious public health hazard. A cross-connection control and backflow prevention program helps prevent contaminants from entering a drinking water distribution system. The City of Elkhart’s cross-connection control and backflow prevention program is found in the Current Guide to Water Utility Policies available at elkhartindiana.org/wp-content/uploads/Current-Guide-to-Water-Utility-Policies.pdf. The program specifies the where and what devices are required to prevent backflow and requires annual testing of all backflow devices. Testing results or questions about this program can be submitted to [email protected].

The City of Elkhart is committed to proactive stewardship of our natural local environmental resources while positioning the community for long range economic growth and sustainability. Ensuring the quality of this balance requires thoughtful and careful development of our community’s utility and transportation infrastructure which link Elkhart citizens to the community’s environmental assets.

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Program

City of Elkhart Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Program

The goal of the Fat, Oil and Grease (FOG) program is to help protect the City’s sewer infrastructure from blockages and backups. The program works with local food service establishments, industrial customers and local residents to reduce their contribution of FOG to the City’s sewer system. Keeping FOG out of our sewer network helps reduce the cost of sewer service.

A major component of the FOG Program is the registration of ALL FSE’s connected to the City of Elkhart’s sewer system. Once registered and an inspection completed, FSE’s will receive a FOG Registration Certificate. The FOG Registration Certificate will be valid for 3 years from the date of issuance.

FOG comes from many sources:

• Baked goods
• Butter & margarine
• Cooking oil
• Dairy products
• Foods cooked in deep fryers
• Lard
• Mayonnaise
• Meats
• Pastries
• Salad dressings
• Sauces & gravy
• Shortening

FOG Prevention:

Following tips for homeowners, businesses, organizations and restaurants can help reduce the amount of FOG entering the sewer system and avoid expensive sewer backups, and plumbing emergencies, while helping protect water quality in our community.

Do

• Properly dispose of cooking oil by pouring it into a heat-proof, sealable container and placing the sealed container in the trash.
• Scrape food scraps into the trash, not the sink.
• Wipe pots, pans, and dishes with dry paper towels before rinsing or washing them. Then throw away the paper towels.
• Use a sink strainer to catch food items, then empty the strainer into the trash.

Don’t

• Don’t use a garbage disposal or food grinder. Grinding food up does not remove FOG.
• Don’t pour cooking oil, pan drippings, bacon grease, salad dressings, or sauces down the sink or toilet.
• Don’t use cloth towels or rags to scrape plates or clean greasy or oily dishware. When you wash them, the grease will end up in the sewer.

FOG Registration for Food Service Establishments

A major component of the FOG Program is the registration of ALL FSE’s connected to the City of Elkhart’s sewer system. FSE’s established and open before June 1, 2015 will have 90 days (due August 30, 2015) to submit the FOG Discharge Certificate Registration Application (included in this packet). FOG Discharge Certificate will be valid for 3 years from the date of issuance.

The Public Works and Utilities Department facilitates the collection of garbage and recycling efforts within the City of Elkhart with a contracted service provider, Borden Waste-Away for weekly curbside trash and recycling service to all homes and apartments with 4 units or less. Borden Waste-Away can be reached at 574-293-5001.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Please have your trash and recycling bin out by 6 am on your service day.
• If your collection day falls on a holiday, your waste and your recyclables will be picked up on the following day.
• Recyclable materials include glass bottles and jars, aluminum, tin, and steel cans, paper and cardboard, plastics #1 through #7.
• Cart placement must be within 3 feet of the curb or street side and allow 2 feet of clearance from objects such as parked cars, trees, poles, etc.

Please visit Borden’s website at (provide link) or 574-293-5001 for more information including obtaining a trash or recycling cart, large item pickup, recycling of electronic waste and Styrofoam or additional service needs.

To view a map of the Residential Trash Pick-Up boundaries and service days click View Map.

Stormwater is water from snow and ice melting, as well as rainwater from storms. When stormwater lands on natural surfaces like forests and grassy areas, most of it soaks into the ground. When it lands on streets, parking lots, and other hard surfaces, it usually runs off to another location. As stormwater flows (or snow melts), it picks up debris, chemicals (such as fertilizers and pesticides), dirt, cigarette butts, and other pollutants. This “contaminated” water then enters a storm sewer system and is eventually discharged to a lake, stream, river, wetland, or pond.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now considers pollution contained in stormwater runoff to be one of the most significant sources of contamination in our nation’s waterways. Within Elkhart stormwater may run off of driveways, parking lots, construction sites, and streets where it picks up oil, grease, sediments, and many other pollutants that are harmful to the environment. As this stormwater washes down our streets it flows into storm drains and then flows directly into local ponds, creeks, and rivers affecting our ability to use our water bodies for drinking water, fishing and recreational purposes. It also degrades aquatic habitats that are essential for waterfowl, fish and other aquatic organisms.

The City of Elkhart’s Stormwater Utility was created in 2006. This system exists to convey the stormwater that drains off yards, roofs, streets, and parking lots from neighborhoods to local waterways or retention ponds. The Utility must also ensure that Elkhart meets state and federal requirements for improving the quality of stormwater runoff. Because most stormwater receives no treatment before it goes into a stream, lake, or river it is important that we keep as many pollutants as possible out of the stormwater runoff.

The Elkhart County Stormwater Assessment Fee is calculated as follows:

For non-residential parcels the annual fee is calculated using the following equation:

• [(Total Square Feet of Impervious Surface on Parcel) / 3600] * $15 = Stormwater Fee *Note: 1 ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) = 3600 square feet
• All residential parcels are billed for one ERU ($15 annually)

For developers wanting more information on how to submit a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, please visit www.elkcoswcd.org/rule-5-2/compliance-process-for-elkhart-county/.

For homeowners wanting more information on the rain garden or rain barrel incentives, please visit www.elkcoswcd.org/homeowners/.

The Elkhart Wastewater Treatment Plant is located at 1201 South Nappanee Street in Elkhart, Indiana. The plant discharges effluent to the St. Joseph River under the authority of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The plant operates under permit #IN0025674.

The facility utilizes an activated sludge process and is designed to treat an average daily flow of 20 MGD (millions of gallons per day). Preliminary treatment includes automatic bar screens and cyclone grit removal. The primary treatment process includes six rectangular clarifiers, and the secondary treatment process includes five aeration tanks, utilizing a biological nutrient removal process for ammonia and phosphorus. Effluent from the facility is disinfected year-round with ultraviolet light.

Sludge produced as a part of treating the wastewater is processed utilizing anaerobic treatment to break down solids and eliminate pathogens. Biosolids are dewatered using two-meter belt filter presses and are landfilled.

In 1995, the Environmental Protection Agency and the eight states bordering the Great Lakes agreed to reduce mercury released into waters. This initiative limited mercury discharges into waterways that feed the Great Lakes to an average of 1.3 nanograms per liter each month (ng/L). That’s about one drop of mercury in the water that the City of Elkhart uses in 8 months! The City of Elkhart has a special variance to discharge 1.6 ng/L while we work to eliminate any possible sources of mercury entering our sewer system.

The 1.3 ng/L standard was developed to ensure continuing wildlife safety, but mercury can also poses a risk to humans. To learn more about mercury, including what you can do to help reduce mercury in the environment, please visit the EPA’s mercury website at epa.gov/mercury.

Please contact us at 574-293-2572 with any questions, concerns, or to discuss opportunities for educational programs.

Please use the forms below and email your applications to [email protected] along with a lease or settlement statement and your driver’s license. After receiving the necessary documents, a representative will reach out to you to schedule an appointment to start water services.

At this time, all fees and deposits, as required, will be billed. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email at [email protected].

There are several convenient ways to pay your water/sewer bill:

• In person at the Billing Office with cash, check or money order, or credit or debit cards
• You may sign up for Auto Debit. The Auto Debit form may be obtained at the Billing Office or online here. Your payment will automatically be deducted from your bank account each month on the bill’s due date.
• The Billing Office has a 24-hour payment drop that accepts checks or money orders located by the drive-up window on the north side of the building. Payments made before 8:00 am will be processed before disconnections for non-payment are worked.
• Online (elkhartindiana.org/billpay) or by phone (1-833-250-4483) with a credit card, debit card, or electronic check. Electronic check option is available online only.

Elkhart Public Utilities is pleased to offer customers two quick and easy ways to make Utility account bill payments by credit card (VISA, MasterCard and Discover), debit card, and e-Check.

You can pay your bill anytime, 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and all payments made after 6 pm will be posted the next business day.

Warning: If incorrect bank information is entered the utility will not receive your payment. This will result in a charge to your account and you may also incur late fees.

Effective July 1, 2022, rates were decreased slightly in compliance with House Enrolled Act 1002 repealing the Utility Receipts Tax. The rate change approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission can be viewed here. The new Schedule of Rates and Charges is available here.

On December 4, 2023, the Common Council of the City of Elkhart approved two ordinances that changed the sewer and water rates. The new sewer rates will go into effect on July 1, 2024. The new water rates are pending approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, but they are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2025. You can view the new rates at elkhartindiana.org/ratechange.

The Aquatics Program is a joint effort between the Cities of Elkhart and South Bend to evaluate the health of the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers and their tributaries. The program’s main focus is to evaluate the fish communities of local rivers and streams. However, it also looks at the health of the macroinvertebrate (insects and other small animals) communities, collects water samples, and samples the tissue of certain species to evaluate fish consumption safety. All of the data gathered by the program, biological and chemical, is used in a comprehensive evaluation of the health of our local waterways. Since the inception of the program in 1998, a significant amount of data has been collected on the health of our local rivers and streams.

The St. Joseph River is the most important natural resource in the communities of South Bend and Elkhart. As our communities developed around the river in the 1800s, we used it as a mode of transportation, a source of energy for industry and electricity, and as a conveyance for getting rid of our waste. Early uses of the river drastically impacted its health, but it has improved significantly. The Elkhart-South Bend Aquatics Program is gauging the health of the river from a long-term perspective.

The Elkhart River Dam, located in downtown Elkhart, was removed in January of 2020. The Aquatic Biology Program performed several surveys above and below the dam prior to its removal and determined that there was a significant disparity in the number of fish below the dam versus the number of fish above. In the summer of 2020, the Aquatic Biology Program sampled above the dam and documented numerous new species that recolonized the Elkhart River following the removal. The report below details the new species discovered above the dam and other fish community benefits as a result of the project.

The Indiana stretch of the St. Joseph River, from Bristol to the downstream side of South Bend, offers excellent fishing opportunities. There are numerous game species that can be caught, from steelhead and salmon that swim out of Lake Michigan, to a prolific smallmouth bass fishery that draws countless bass anglers and tournaments. Other heavily pursued fish include walleye, panfish (bluegill and crappie), channel catfish, and more. While serious anglers continuously fish their hot spots on the St. Joseph River, it also offers a lot of opportunities for those that don’t get to fish often or those that are new to fishing. People interested in learning more about fishing opportunities on the St. Joseph River should feel free to contact us.

It is apparent from talking with local residents that many people don’t have a great understanding of whether or not it is safe to eat locally caught fish. There is a perception among many that fish are completely unsafe to eat out of the rivers, while others claim that it’s just fine to eat any species without concern. The truth lies somewhere in between. It has a lot to do with the species of fish, its size, and where it was caught. A variety of fish species are safe to eat from our local rivers and streams, as long as they are consumed in moderation and as recommended in the State’s Fish Consumption Advisory.

The State of Indiana, through several agencies, monitors fish contaminant information in water bodies across the state of Indiana in an effort to provide guidance on consuming wild fish. The St. Joseph River is included in their fish consumption advisory, with a significant amount of the data provided by the Elkhart-South Bend Aquatics Program. Detailed information on fish consumption in Indiana can be found at the Indiana Department of Health’s website.

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