Consultants' Corner

Programs and information useful individuals who work in the areas of wastewater management, agricultural runoff, municiapal storm water runoff, shoreland and dam management and more.

Wastewater

Wastewater Systems Plan Review

Sewerage systems in Wisconsin are subject to the administrative rules of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A "sewerage system" is the collection of all structures, conduits and pipes, by which sewage is collected, treated, and disposed of, with the exception of building plumbing and the service pipes from buildings to municipally owned sewers.

WPDES Permit Program

Through the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit program, the DNR regulates municipal, industrial, and significant animal waste operations discharging wastewater or storm water to surface or groundwaters.

Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program

The types of operators certified under this program include people who participate in, or are responsible for, the operation of water and wastewater facilities, septage servicing activities, and solid waste disposal facilities (including those that burn solid waste).

Sewer Service Area (SSA) Planning Program

The state's Areawide Water Quality Management Planning code (Wisconsin Administrative Code, NR 121) establishes Sewer Service Area Planning. The WDNR is responsible for working with regional planning commissions, county governments, municipalities, townships and the public to develop sewer service area plans that guide publicly sewered growth and which protect water quality. This page provides information about the background and purpose of the program, the process of developing or amending a plan, and other pertinent information that may be useful to you and your community.

Monitoring

DNR's Biomonitoring Program

"Biomonitoring" is a generic term which is used by the WDNR when describing many different programs which involve biological monitoring of the environment (for example, instream biological surveys, testing for bioaccumulating substances in the aquatic food chain, etc.). This page currently focuses on information about one main part of the Biomonitoring program called the Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program. Information shared at here includes: WET guidance, WET test procedures for labs and permittees, answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ), a list of WET program contacts, certified laboratories, and more.

Wetlands

Waterway and Wetland Permits (Bureau of Fisheries and Habitat)

This page contains general information on Wisconsin's Water Regulations and how the DNR protects public rights and interests in navigable waters.

Lower Fox River Contaminated Sediment Alternatives

The Fox River PCB cleanup web page. The links on this page will lead you to information about the project including; the latest news on the project, reports and studies, background information, links to other important sites, and people to contact if you need more information.

Permits

Dam Permits, Inspections, Other Information

Floodplain

Floodplain Management Program

The goal of Wisconsin's Floodplain Management Program is to protect people and their property from unwise floodplain development, and to protect society from the costs which are associated with developed floodplains.

Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

These grants provide funds for projects ranging from sewer service area and continuous areawide water quality planning to geographically focused habitat work in the Great Lakes, for example, and support for best management practices targeted specifically at waterbodies declining in quality or fully impaired.

General Environmental Regulations & Licensing

State of Wisconsin Regulations

Be sure to check Innovations in Watershed Management for tools and information.