...............................................1
2
Sanitary Combined Sewer Plan Review Process ...............................................2
3
Storm Sewer Plan Review Process ....................................................................3
4
Plan Submittal Cover Sheet ...............................................................................4
5
Project Web Site ................................................................................................4
Appendix A: MMSD Rules and Regulations - Chapters 2, 3, 7, and 13
Appendix B: WDNR Forms for Sewer Plan Reviews
Appendix C: MMSD Sewer Plan Review Submittal Cover Sheet
Appendix D: Project Web Site Instructions 1
1. Introduction
The sewer plan review process provides a means for the District to assure that sewers, both public
and private, tributary to the Districts system are designed to conform to the Rules and
Regulations of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District. The District originally adopted the
Rules and Regulations in 1982, and has made various updates since that time. For example, a
major update was adopted in 1998 to include provisions related to implementation of the Districts
infiltration/inflow (I/I) control program. Review of local sewer plans was also a regular practice
of the Districts predecessor organization, the Sewerage Commission of the City of Milwaukee.
Documentation of this activity dates back to the early 1920s.
The following chapters of the Rules and Regulations contain specific provisions relevant to the
sewer plan review process and the Districts authority to conduct such reviews:
Chapter 2:
Planning, Design, and Construction of Sewers and Ancillary Facilities
Chapter 3:
Infiltration and Inflow Control
Chapter 7:
Approval of Sewer Plans
Chapter 13: Surface Water and Storm Water
The above chapters are included in Appendix A of this submittal kit (the District Rules and
Regulations are also available electronically on the Districts web site,
www.mmsd.com)
.
Following are brief descriptions of the information included in each of the above chapters:
Chapter 2: Planning, Design, and Construction of Sewers and Ancillary Facilities
This chapter contains District requirements for sewer plan submittals, including a description of
sewer projects that must be submitted for approval, descriptions of construction and system plan
requirements that must be followed when preparing plans for submittal, and other general
requirements governing the submittal of plans. This section also establishes a 60-day District
review period. Following District review, plans that require Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources (WDNR) approval are forwarded to the WDNR for its review and approval. The
WDNR then advises the District of the results of its review. The District then notifies the
community of its approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of submitted plans. The District
considers the 60-day review period to begin with the submittal of a complete set of plans and
specifications as outlined in Chapter 2, and to end with the forwarding of plans to the WDNR.
Chapter 3: Infiltration and Inflow Control
This chapter contains District sewer design and construction requirements for the exclusion of
infiltration to the maximum extent possible and the total exclusion of inflow for the structures
described in the plans.
Chapter 7: Approval of Sewer Plans
Chapter 7 contains a description of the approval process for sewer plans, specifically regarding the
roles of the Executive Director and the Commission. This section details how base and peak flow
allocations are utilized to determine approval of sewer plans. Chapter 7 also details pre-
construction basin flow monitoring requirements and capacity utilization accounting procedures. 2
Chapter 13: Surface Water and Storm Water
Chapter 13 contains information on watercourses and flood abatement procedures. Included in
this section are guidelines on the submittal of storm water management plans for approval by the
District. Chapter 13 is referenced in this submittal kit because the requirements that apply to
storm water management structures are separate from those that apply to sewers, whether they be
sanitary, combined, or storm sewers. Storm water management plan submittals should conform to
the requirements of Chapter 13 and not the requirements for sanitary, combined, and storm sewers
described in this kit.
2. Sanitary and Combined Sewer Plan Review Process
The plan review process normally includes the following steps:
Administrative review for completeness of submittal
Engineering review for compliance with technical criteria
Operations review of connections to MMSD facilities (if directly connected to District-owned
sewer)
Routing of plans conforming to Rules and Regulations to Executive Director for approval
Submittal of plans to DNR for review
Notification of the plans originator
Filing of the plans and findings
Quality assurance inspection
Submittal of as-built drawings by the municipality
A flow chart of the sanitary and combined sewer plan review process is shown in Figure 1. Each
of the steps in the review is discussed below.
Administrative Review. When a sewer plan is submitted to the District, the plan set is logged into
the Districts tracking database. If a submittal is incomplete, the District calls the originator to
request the missing information. When the submittal is complete, Engineering Review
commences. The following types of information are tracked in the database for each submittal:
General submittal information:
Name of municipality submitting plans
Project name
Unique numerical identifier of project
Location of project within municipality
Description of project (type, size of connections, length of sewer extensions, etc.)
Determination of need for WDNR review of submittal
Submittal review milestones:
Date submittal received by the District
Date submittal considered complete and District began its technical review
Date the District completed its technical review
Date submitted to WDNR for review
Date completed WDNR review received by the District
Date of Commission (or Executive Director) approval
Date approved plans returned to municipality 3
Engineering Review. During the Engineering Review, reviewers check for consistency with the
District Rules and Regulations, the current District facility plan, and applicable design standards.
Examples of items reviewed are:
Whether area tributary to the proposed sewer is in the approved District service area
Whether projected flows are within the planned growth allowance for the basin
Compliance with NR210 and the state plumbing code
Consistency of calculated flows with the District Rules and Regulations and the Facility Plan
Compliance with Districts requirements for water tightness and durability
Whether proposed sewer will result in future operational problems for MMSD
Operations Review. If there are elements to the plan that may impact future District operations or
if the plans include a direct connection to a District interceptor, they are forwarded to Contract
Operations for further review of the potential impact on operations.
Routing of Recommendations to Executive Director. After completion of the Districts
engineering and operations review, recommendations for approval are sent to the Executive
Director for action. Plans require Commission approval if they are not consistent with the Rules
and Regulations or if they require an exemption.
Submittal of plans to DNR for review. After completion of District engineering and operations
review, plans are forwarded to the WDNR for review, if required (neither private nor storm sewer
plans require WDNR review). Municipalities are responsible for including with their submittals to
the District any additional forms required by WDNR; the District will forward these forms to
WDNR along with plans on behalf of municipalities. If WDNR approves the plans, an approval
letter is sent to the District. Copies of WDNR forms that may be required for sewer plan reviews
are provided in Appendix B (further information on the WDNR review process can be found at the
following address:
www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/glwsp/facilities/
).
Notification to Originator. Upon completion of MMSD Commission and WDNR action, the
District notifies the plan originator of the action taken. District staff may notify the plan originator
by telephone when either Executive Director or Commission approval occurs, prior to sending
written approval.
Filing of Plans and Findings. Reviewed plans and the findings of the review are filed after
completion of the review process.
Quality Assurance Inspection and Submittal of As-Built Drawings. The municipality must
arrange for a quality assurance inspection during construction to ensure that the plans and
specifications approved by the District are followed. Inspections must be performed according to
the requirements in Section 2.304. Within six months of construction, the municipality must
submit to the District as-built drawings of the constructed facilities.
3. Storm Sewer Plan Review Process
The plan submittal process for storm sewer projects is similar to that for sanitary and combined
sewers, but the review process for storm sewers is less extensive because storm sewers do not
require District or WDNR approval. Communities must submit a local storm sewer system plan
and construction plans and specifications to the District before the commencement of storm sewer
construction. Chapter 2.212 outlines de