Eastside Relief Sewer
- Location: East of Ridge Road.
- History: Installed in 1990s – 2000s.
System For:
Local overflows from the combined sewer, consisting of:
Storm runoff
Domestic sewage
Industrial/commercial wastewater
Relief Sewer Specs:
- Relief sewers are installed below the combined sewers to collect local overflows.
- The relief overflows go directly to an MWRD backup tunnel (TARP).
- Eventually, MWRD treats the wastewater and discharges it into the Chicago River.
Relief Sewer Issues / Projects:
- The whole system is less than 20 years old.
- Works with the combined sewer to help manage stormwater issues.
- According to the Wilmette Public Works Dept. 2014 Annual Report, instead of getting approval for “one large, multi-million dollar project, the relief sewers are being installed in conjunction with our road program over several years.”
- Expected completion in 2018.
- Adding the relief sewer will help Wilmette comply with the Clean Water Act and IEPA regulations by reducing combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
Fact check:
- For a description of the combined and relief sewers, see “Relief Sewer Project”, at the bottom of the Village of Wilmette’s Sewer Studies webpage.
- For detailed specs for the combined and relief sewers, see Village of Wilmette, Combined Sewer Overflow Operational and Maintenance Plan Summary (April 2014), pp 3-5.