Frequently Asked Questions

Notify the District immediately at 260-665-9865, during normal business hours, or the on-call technician at 260-316-6648 to report the light & alarm 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Please provide your name and telephone number and the address where the light & alarm is occurring.

Please call the District first so if it is a sewer system issue the District can perform the necessary service.

To prevent future backups remember FOG: FOG is Fats Oils and Grease. FOG can build up in pipes and lift stations causing backups and overflows. It is costly to remove once in the sanitary collection system. Customers should prevent FOG from entering any type of system whether it is an on-site or municipal sanitary sewer system.

Feminine articles, plastics, or solid items can damage the grinder pump system. These items should not be flushed in any type of system since it is more costly to remove and dispose of once flushed. The first time something is flushed down the toilet that is not to be flushed, the District generally will not charge for the service call but if this occurs the second time the District will charge for the service call.

It is not recommended to turn off the power.

The District’s purpose is to abate pollution in our watershed by providing sanitary sewer service to those located in our District and within 300 feet of our sanitary sewer collection pipes. Many times properties in these areas have wastewater that is polluting the watershed by flowing into a ditch or small stream.

You are required by Indiana law to call the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service at 811 to have the underground facilities located. This requires a 48 hour notice before any digging may occur. Visit www.indiana811.org for more information.

No, the grinder pump tank can not be covered since maintenance personnel would need access for service or repair. The same applies to sanitary sewer manholes that may be located near the road right-of-way. The District will charge for the service call if the grinder pump tank is buried.

No, the National Electrical Code requires the control box to be within sight and have a certain amount of clearance at the opening of the control box for service & repair.

No, the District needs to have unobstructed access to the sanitary sewer lateral pipe and the grinder pump tank.

Generally the maintenance technicians are digging to replace a check valve or to repair a leaking pipe. The District will restore the area after the soil has settled. This process can be shortened if the property owner can water this area to speed up the soil settling in the dig area.

The District must have 7.5 feet around the grinder pump tank and 7.5 feet on each side of the sanitary sewer lateral pipe for service and repair.

No, a sump pump is not to be connected to any type of system since the passage of the “Clean Water Act of 1972”. Eave spouts, perimeter drains or similar surface drainage systems are not to be connected to the sanitary sewer system. However a lift station that lifts the sanitary sewer water only from a lower level is allowed to be connected.

FOG is Fats, Oils, and Grease. FOG can build up in pipes and lift stations causing backups and overflows. It is costly to remove once in the sanitary collection system. Customers should prevent FOG from entering any type of system whether it is an on-site or municipal sanitary sewer system.

Feminine articles, plastics, or solid items can damage the grinder pump system. These items should not be flushed in any type of system since it is more costly to remove and dispose of once flushed. The first time something is flushed down the toilet that is not to be flushed, the District generally will not charge for the service call but if this occurs the second time the District will charge for the service call. Visit our Prohibited Discharge page for more details.

The monthly sewer payment is due on the 30th of each month. February is the only exception and then it is the 28th. The payment must be physically received in the District office on or before the due date or the account will incur a 10% penalty. Our office does not honor postmarks. A drop box is located just to the right of the main entrance door of the District’s administrative office located at 8119 W 150 N, Angola IN.

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to protect the sanitary sewer facilities on each property. Many times the damage is done by a contractor that the property owner hired to perform some type of work on the property.

The Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District requires that all “Access to Public Records Act” requests to inspect and/or copy be in written form identifying with reasonable particularity the record being requested. Any person listed on the written request may inspect and copy the public records during the regular business hours of our agency if space is available and written request has been made. The District will notify the person making the request when the records will be available so the time can be scheduled for inspection and copying. Subject to the privacy laws.

You must submit a letter to our office one week prior to the meeting describing in detail what you would like to discuss. If it is something that can be answered by the administrative staff you will not be placed on the meeting agenda. Many times the staff can promptly answer your questions.

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The Steuben Lakes Regional Waste District does not receive tax funds. The District operates from the monthly sewer rates collected called revenue.

The District cannot patrol when property owners do/don’t use their property and we have to maintain the infrastructure 24/7 year round (structure or not). The cost of being a customer is broken into 12 months. There is no forbearance of the sewage rate. Forfeiture of tap is the only way to stop the rate which will:

1. Condemn the building when disconnected.
2. Forfeit the capacity fee paid on that lot as well as the equipment that will be removed and returned to the District at the property owners cost.
3. Legal forfeiture paperwork is required.

When selling a property, the seller needs to notify our office to be removed from the billing account.