Waste Water Treatment Plant

---

 Treatment plants remove impurities contained in wastewater so treated wastewater can be safely returned to the environment. This same stabilization process occurs in nature to break down wastewater into its most basic components of carbon dioxide and water. Common methods of treatment include physical, biological and chemical treatment steps to stabilize the wastewater. The City of Fostoria’s wastewater treatment plant is designed to accelerate and control nature's process to insure proper treatment is provided. 

 Treated wastewater is returned to the environment by discharging effluent water into the East Branch of the Portage River. 

 Samples are collected and analyzed by our laboratory in our on-site laboratory. This information is added to our operational database. We also contract services with Bojuhn laboratories to verify quality as well. 

 The main causes of blocked sewer lines are grease that builds up in the line and tree roots that seek the water in the line. Regular maintenance products (Drain-O, Liquid Plumber, etc.) should be used on a regular basis to avoid build up of grease in your traps. Never pour kitchen grease down the drain. Put it in a container and dispose of it in the trash. Trees and shrubs planted too close to sewer pipes can also cause problems. The roots get into the pipes creating blockages and broken sewer lines that can be expensive to repair. 

 Care and maintenance of the house sewer line (lateral) is the responsibility of the property owner including any part that extends from the building into the street or public right-of-way. This sewer lateral goes all the way from the building to where it taps into the city’s main sewer line usually located in the street or alley. When this line becomes plugged, it is the property owner's responsibility to fix. 

 Check with your neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar problems. If neighbors are having the same slow drainage, there is a chance that there is a problem in the public sewer main and the city’s responsibility. Call: 419-435-2793 to report the problem. If neighbors are not having sewer problems your sewer lateral may be blocked or broken and the homeowner is responsible for repairs. 

 Wastewater contains naturally occurring gases that can build-up and create odors. Sometimes during heavy rains or warm temperatures the odor can increase and cold weather and low temperatures can decrease odors. Call 419-435-2793 to report unpleasant odors coming from manholes so we can investigate and correct the problem. 

 The city is responsible for repair and maintenance of the sewer mains located in the streets and in public easements. Our responsibility ends where the lateral line connects to the main line. 

 No, dumping into city manholes is not permitted. Please call us at 419-435-2793 and report anyone illegally dumping into our city manholes. 

 Do not flush Antifreeze, Car & Home Batteries, Oil & Oil Filters, Latex Paint, or any form of dangerous materials. When leftover paint, used oil, pool chemicals or any other product containing potentially dangerous materials are thrown away, they become "household hazardous wastes." They should never be washed down the drain into our sewer or storm drain systems.