Tippecanoe and Chapman Lakes Septic Elimination Project

Considered to be one of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of Kosciusko County, this project is a collaborative effort to provide homeowners with a community sewer system. When complete, this project will have a monumental impact on both the environment and quality of life for residents along Tippecanoe and ChapmanLakes.

In 1994, a multitude of sewer studies took place finding that there may not be adequate capacity for discharge of the wastewater created by residents around the lakes. There were also concerns that the soil may not be conducive to on-site septic and many lots were under the minimum size necessary.Because of this, a sewer system was recommended to serve the area. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that the Tippecanoe-Chapman Regional Sewer District (TCRSD)was formed.

As the engineering firm working on this monumental project,JPR completed a Preliminary Engineering Report in 2021 and found that a pressure sewer sys­tem would be the most cost-effective solution. This would consist of grinder pump stations, typically shared between neighboring property owners, that force wastewater through a pressure main network. It was also decided that regionalization with the City of Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant would be the most economical option for disposal. This connection to Warsaw’s gravity sew­er system would allow the wastewater pumped from Tippecanoe andChapman Lakes to be transported to their plant for treatment.

A true collaboration, this project involved a variety of stakeholders including Kosciusko County, TCRSD board members, The WatershedFoundation, and the City of Warsaw, as well as property owners’ associations.It was also imperative that the homeown­ers were involved. JPR engineers and support staff facilitated multiple com­munity engagement meetings, met with resident’s one-on-one, answered phone calls, and responded to emails.

Once the design was complete, the bidding process began in 2022 and the funding was closed soon after. The project received over $13.5million in grants and is funded through the Indiana State Revolving Fund (SRF)and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development.

Construction started in December 2022 with a groundbreaking ceremony, and the sewer will be built-out over 18 to 24 months.Substantial completion is planned for September 2024, with final completion soon thereafter. At that time, customers will connect to the new sewer system, and treatment will begin at the Warsaw Wastewater Treatment Plant.

By redirecting and treating the sewage instead of using homeowner septic sys­tems, this will help reduce pollution in the Upper Tippecanoe River Watershed, as well as improve the health and safety of both residents and visitors.

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