Wastewater Department

When you use your washing machine, wash your dishes or flush your toilet, the City of Nevada’s Wastewater Department is responsible for treating the wastewater. Two wastewater operators and a wastewater superintendent in the City’s wastewater department maintain the infrastructure related to sanitary sewage.

Wastewater services provided by the City are essential for maintaining the quality of life residents expect.

Sanitary sewer systems improve quality of life by providing a mechanism to remove waste generated by the community. Removing wastewater in the proper way improves the health and overall appearance of the community. The City of Nevada has approximately 160,000 feet of publicly owned sanitary sewer, which the Public Works Department, including wastewater, is responsible for maintaining. Tasks completed by these departments include cleaning sewer mains, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) inspections of the sanitary sewer system, inspecting manholes, repairing manholes, maintaining pumps, repairing damaged sewer main, and various other duties.

Currently, construction of a new Wastewater Treatment Facility to perform nutrient removal, specifically Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) and handle flow/loading spikes is underway, approximately 3.5 miles south of Nevada. This new plant will replace the older facility located on South Sixth Street just north of Highway 30. The new Wastewater Treatment Facility is expected to go online in January 2024.

If you have an issue after hours with your sewer line and you believe it could be from the City’s main, please call 515-382-4305.

What to do when your sewer line backs up

What do I do if my sewer backs up?

Call the Street Department at 515-382-4813 during regular business hours. Call the Police Department at 515-382-4305 after hours and holidays.

A maintenance crew will be notified of the problem and will determine if the stoppage is in the city main or your service line. If the city main is found to be clear, it is the responsibility of the property owner to call a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service to correct the problem. The property owner is responsible for maintaining adequate flow to and through the sewer lateral from the property structure into the city sewer main. If the blockage is in the city main, we will fix it promptly and keep you informed about what is being done.

IMPORTANT: Check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if you have coverage for backups. If you do not have coverage, consider adding it to your policy. In most cases the City’s insurance will not cover your damages in the event of a backup.

A sewer backup can lead to disease, destruction of your valuables, and damage to your home and/or electrical malfunctions. Prompt cleanup of affected property can help minimize the inconvenience and damage. We offer the following tips for dealing with this situation:

Immediately arrange for the cleanup of your property
Take before and after photos of the affected areas
Itemize any property losses
Wet-vacuum or remove spillage
Mop the floors and wipe walls with soap and disinfectant
Flush out and disinfect plumbing fixtures
Steam clean or remove carpet and drapes
Clean appliances and ductwork
Repair or remove wallboard or wall covering

Questions about our water plant

How much wastewater does the plant treat each day?

Around 1 million gallons per day under normal conditions. Flows increase during heavy rains and periods of wet weather.

What is done with the sludge that is produced at the plant?

After being processed by anaerobic digestion, liquid bio-solids are hauled and applied to farm ground and used as a soil amendment for the nutrient content.