Wisconsin § 281.63 - Financial assistance program; combined sewer overflow abatement.

§ 281.63. Financial assistance program; combined sewer overflow abatement.

281.63(1) (1) Legislative findings. The legislature finds that state financial assistance for the elimination of combined sewer overflow to the waters of the state is a public purpose and a proper function of state government. 281.63(2) (2) Definitions. As used in this section: 281.63(2)(a) (a) “Combined sewer” means a sewer intended to serve as a sanitary sewer and a storm sewer or as an industrial sewer and a storm sewer. 281.63(2)(b) (b) “Combined sewer overflow” means a discharge of a combination of storm and sanitary wastewater or storm and industrial wastewater directly or indirectly to the waters of the state when the volume of wastewater flow exceeds the transport, storage or treatment capacity of a combined sewer system. 281.63(2)(c) (c) “Facilities plan” means that plan or study which demonstrates the need for the proposed sewerage system or sewerage system component and which demonstrates through a systematic evaluation of alternatives that the selected alternative is the most cost-effective means of correcting combined sewer overflows. 281.63(2)(d) (d) “Federal act” means the federal water pollution control act, as amended, 33 USC 1251 to 1376 . 281.63(3) (3) Administration. The department shall administer the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program. The department shall promulgate rules necessary for the proper execution of this program. 281.63(4) (4) Eligibility. 281.63(4)(a) (a) Eligible municipalities. Only a municipality with a sewerage system which is violating ch. 283 or title III of the federal act because of combined sewer overflow is eligible to receive financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program. 281.63(4)(b) (b) Eligible projects. Only a project for construction necessary to abate combined sewer overflows identified in department-approved facilities plans as cost-effective and reasonably necessary for water quality improvements is eligible for financial assistance under the combined sewer overflow abatement financial assistance program, except that the department need not determine the cost-effectiveness of projects performed under a contract awarded under s.