$37 million sewer overflow storage tank being built in Elkhart to help keep rivers clean

ELKHART, Ind. (WNDU) - A tank is being deployed in Elkhart’s battle to keep its rivers clean.

In this case, it’s a three-story water tank that holds up to 1.7 million gallons.

During heavy rains, combined sanitary and storm water flows untreated into the St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers. The tank is designed to keep the contaminated water from reaching the streams.

“The surge forces the raw, untreated sewage out into the rivers, and so we’re really trying to reduce and eliminate that so that it all goes to the wastewater treatment plant, gets treated and disinfected before it enters the waterways,” said Elkhart Public Works Director Tory Irwin.

At $37 million, the tank is said to be the city’s largest ever investment in infrastructure.

The project, dubbed the “Oakland Project” by city officials, will require about 10 miles of new underground sewer pipe from Nappanee Street to the waterfall at Jackson Street. A new pedestrian path at ground level will follow the track of the pipe.