Sewer Service Area Planning

The state's Areawide Water Quality Management Planning code (Wisconsin Administrative Code, NR 121) establishes Sewer Service Area (SSA) Planning. The WDNR is responsible for working with regional planning commissions, county governments, municipalities, townships and the public to develop SSA plans that guide publicly sewered growth and which protect water quality.

The links on this page provide information about the background and purpose of the program, the process of developing or amending a plan, and other pertinent information that may be useful to you and your community.

Interested readers can order a short introductory fact sheet on sewer service area planning, What Is a Sewer Service Area? (PUBL # WR-431), from the WDNR, Bureau of Watershed Management, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.

Submittal Procedures for Sewer Service Area Plans and Amendments

The initial application for sewer service area amendments should be made to the responsible regional planning agency. Requests for WDNR guidance, or approval of plan amendments or updates, should be directed to Tom Gilbert, Wastewater Section, Bureau of Watershed Management. Duane Schuettpelz, Chief of the Wastewater Section, has general administrative responsibility for the Sewer Service Area Planning Program. Lisa Helmuth, also of the Bureau of Watershed Management, administers funding programs and coordinates contracts with regional planning agencies.

Plan update or amendment request submittals, including policy related questions, should be addressed to Tom Gilbert:

Thomas A. Gilbert, P.E.
Bureau of Watershed Management
WI Department of Natural Resources
101 S. Webster St.
PO Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921

Voice - (608) 267-7628
Fax - (608) 267-2800
E-Mail - Tom.Gilbert@wisconsin.gov

If you have questions about this page or the SSA Program, contact the Bureau of Watershed Management.