City of Wyoming

It's been a busy little town in 2010!

Wyoming Public Library remodeling project is finished. Be sure to check out the Library.

Downtown and Highway 136 improvements are finished!

Waterworks project is near completion.

Thanks to everyone for their patience.

Wyoming is awarded Jones County Endowment Funds!

Wyoming Public Library was awarded $8,473.00 for the remodeling project.

Little Eagles Nest Learning Center was awarded $11,710 for playground equipment.

Wyoming Pioneers received funds for playground equipment at the Fairgrounds.

Little Eagles Nest Learning Center

A childcare/preschool facility has been identified as a pressing need in the Midland District. The City of Wyoming has been awarded a Community Block Development Grant of $300,000! The committee has received funding through the Ripple Effect of $1,250 with matching funds from the Wyoming Mutual Telephone Company. Wyoming has been awarded $150,00 in grant funds from USDA for the Little Eagle's Nest Learning Center! They have also applied for a loan from the USDA Rural Development in the amount of $353,500. The Midland School board has agreed to the childcare being built on school property. The childcare committee has partnered with the Wyoming Lion’s Club to work in the caramel corn stand to raise money. Be sure to get a bag at the next Midland home Football game!

The Little Eagle's Nest Learning Center will not only benefit the future of the Midland School District but also the community of the Wyoming area and surrounding cities. The center will keep and draw families to our school system and community.

The proposed design is a 4,253 square foot facility designed to hold
8 infants/toddlers
8 two year olds
8 three year olds
12 four and five year olds
16 before and after school children.

Estimated cost with geo-thermal and basement is $808,000. The project will be funded with grants, donations and fees from childcare clients.

Sewer Improvements

The City received a Planning & Design loan in the amount of $243,500 for improvements to the sewer system required by the IDNR. The IDNR is requiring a plan of action to reduce the infiltration in the sewer system due to violations of the discharging permit. The City of Wyoming has significant ground water entering the sanitary sewer system. The amount of our discharge at the treatment facility is excessive to what is allowed in our wastewater permit. Wyoming’s permit requires that wastewater must be stored approximately 180 days. Our facility does not have sufficient storage to hold the wastewater for that period of time. We must reduce the amount of groundwater getting into the system or make improvements at the lagoons. If we are not successful we will be forced to correct the violation at the lagoons which will result in dramatic increases to the sewer rates. Infiltration to the system comes from damaged sewer service lines, field tiles hooked into the system and other illegal connections.

What is an illegal connection?

An illegal connection is a connection that permits extraneous storm-related water (water from sources other than sanitary fixtures and floor drains) to enter the sanitary sewer system. The extraneous storm-related water is water that should be going to the storm sewer, ditch or allowed to soak into the ground without entering the sanitary sewer.

What are the different types of illegal connections?

Illegal connections include connections of downspouts, sump pumps and area drains to the house sewer lines. In addition, defective house sewer lines cause extraneous water to enter the sanitary sewers and thus they are also illegal connections.

Where should storm drainage from downspouts, sump pump, and / or other drain appurtenances be directed if it can't be discharged to the sanitary sewer?

Water from sump pumps, area drains and the like should be diverted to the storm sewers, your own front or back yards or above ground drainage ditches.

Why is it important for everyone to remove illegal connections?

Removal of illegal connections will significantly reduce the flow of extraneous storm-related water in the sanitary sewer system. This storm water ends up at the wastewater treatment plant and is treated along with sanitary flow.

How can surcharged sanitary sewers cause basement flooding?

A surcharged sewer flows at a level greater than the "normal" level. If the home has sanitary fixtures or floor drains at an elevation below the surcharge level, basement flooding can occur. The sanitary sewers have been designed to transfer sanitary waste only. Extraneous storm water flow added to the normal sanitary flow can exceed the capacity of the sanitary sewer resulting in a situation where the sanitary sewer is "surcharged." Basically, surcharging occurs when the amount of flow trying to get through a pipe exceeds the maximum capacity of the pipe thus building up pressure in the pipe. When pressure builds up it seeks to relieve itself through any means possible, one of which is by backing up private sanitary services and filling basements and crawlspaces. Reducing the extraneous flow will reduce the surcharging and sewer back-ups.

Do illegal connections really contribute large amounts of extraneous water to the sanitary sewer system?

Yes. For example, an eight-inch sanitary sewer can handle domestic water flow from up to 465 homes; however, it takes only twelve sump pumps operating at full capacity to overload an eight-inch sanitary sewer.

If I have an illegal connection what do I do to correct it?

Consult a licensed plumber to determine the most appropriate methods of removing a specific illegal connection.

The following are some possible solutions:

The sump pipe could be run overland to a ditch that could drain to another location. Also, a long flexible tube that can be moved around the yard to avoid discharge in only one portion of the yard could be used.
The sump pump can be run underground through a 4" or 6" diameter perforated PVC pipe, with holes at the bottom and back filled with washed gravel. An overflow tube should be placed at the opposite end to allow the water to escape in the event that the volume of the pipe is exceeded. This pipe tube is located at a convenient area of the yard such as a garden.
Route the sump pump to a City storm sewer via a 6" pipe and tie into the back of an inlet or the crown of the mainline pipe by way of a core hole. No breaking out of the concrete pipe is allowed. If the homeowner is doing the work the City will make the tap. If the homeowner hires a contractor, the contractor is required to do all the work.

Is the requirement to remove illegal connections unique to Wyoming?

No. In response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, local governments have adopted ordinances or codes prohibiting the intrusion of extraneous storm-related water into sanitary sewers.

All new and reconstructed sewer connections are required to have a backwater valve located on private property to prevent the back up of sewage onto the premises of the property owner. A plumber can easily install a backwater valve to your current system also.