Fort Wayne Designates 7 Waterways, Avoids New Sewer Costs for Residents

The Indiana Environmental Rules Board adopted a combined sewer overflow wet weather limited use subcategory for seven Fort Wayne waterways under a 2021 rulemaking, with the change taking effect after full long-term control plan completion. The policy applies only during limited periods after overflows and leaves existing recreational standards in place otherwise. It directly affects the city’s combined sewer system serving local residents.

The long-term control plan for Fort Wayne, approved in 2007 and updated under a federal consent decree, reached expected full implementation in 2025. An accompanying use attainability analysis received approval in July 2020. These steps qualified the city for the subcategory under state law, allowing the designation when overflows occur despite the completed controls.

Household Budget Effects

Establishment of the subcategory produces no fiscal impact on the city of Fort Wayne or its rate-paying customers. Sewer bills for local households remain unchanged by the rule itself. The city’s implementation of the long-term control plan has already reduced typical-year overflow events from 71 to one on the St. Joseph River and a maximum of four on other affected streams, without requiring additional rate increases tied to this designation.

Residents who use the affected waterways for recreation will see the limited-use subcategory active for no more than four days after a discharge ends. At all other times the prior recreational standards continue to apply. This structure avoids any new compliance expenses passed along to ratepayers.

Next Steps After Adoption

The rulemaking requires submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval under the Clean Water Act. IDEM maintained contact with the federal agency throughout the process. The designation covers the specific outfalls identified in the approved use attainability analysis once the consent decree requirements are met.

Local advocates and city officials can reference the IDEM information sheet at https://www.in.gov/idem/legal/files/rules_erb_20211110_21-164_info_sheet.pdf for details on how the change aligns with the existing consent decree and federal CSO policy.