Common Issues & Questions

1.   I am a customer of the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District, am I in the right place?

No, the City of Monticello operates the wastewater system that is generally within the corporate boundaries of the City. If you have a question or problem with your system and are a customer of the Sewer District, please contact them at:  574-583-5649

2.   I believe I have sewage backing up into my basement or coming out of the cleanout in my yard;
       what should I do?

The City takes backups and overflows very seriously, if you believe you are experiencing a backup of overflow:

If during business hours, contact the billing office at:  574-583-5443
If outside of business hours, contact the NON-EMERGENCY line for the Monticello Police Department at 574.583.2256

Please be prepared to give your name, the service address, a phone number you can be contacted at, and a description of the problem and any observations.

What happens then?

City personnel will respond to investigate the problem as soon as possible and attempt to determine whether the problem is under the jurisdiction of the City. If the problem is with the City sewers, City personnel will attempt to correct the issue quickly and with the minimum amount of hassle possible. If the City owned sewers are verified to be clear, the problem is considered to be the responsibility of the home owner and a local plumber may need to be consulted. The City cannot give recommendations regarding plumbing services.

3.   What determines CITY responsibility vs. HOME OWNER responsibility?

In general, the owner is responsible for the sewer lateral as it exits the home or building all the way to the point at which it connects to the sewer main, regardless that the sewer main is typically located in the street and within the Right-of-Way; as such, it can generally be said that if wastewater is freely flowing at the up- and downstream manholes, any issues are with the owner’s system. Please contact the Wastewater Utility before attempting to repair private laterals located within the City Right-of-Way, while the City cannot repair all issues with privately owned sewers, exceptions are made on a case-by-case basis within the Right-of-Way in order to minimize the overall cost to the community.

4.   I have other concerns, who should I contact?

General questions and concerns should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or directed to the treatment plant at 574-583-4651 during regular business hours.

5.   I would like to learn more about CSOs and what the City is doing about them, who should I contact?

General questions and complaints should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or directed to the treatment plant at 574-583-4651 during regular business hours.

6.   What are the operating hours of the Utility?

Billing Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. except on City recognized holidays. The treatment plant operates on a 24-hour basis but plant operators are often not readily near the telephone and able to answer general calls.

7.   As a contractor or developer, how can I get information as to City Construction Standards?

Construction Standards for the design and construction of sewers, watermains, and streets are available at the following link:  (2/2017 - To Be Announced. Please return at a later date for new information) It is the developer’s responsibility to conform design and construction to the latest revisions of these standards.

8.   As a contractor or developer, how should I begin the process to get my designs approved and permitted?

Plans and specifications for your project are required to be submitted for review and approval through (2/2017 To Be Announced. Please return at a later date for updated information.) and will then be forwarded to the City for review. Please keep in mind that any sanitary sewer extensions or pump stations that will be turned over to the City of ownership and maintenance may require permitting through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Please contact the utility at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have questions regarding these requirements.

9.   I am ready to have my constructed project inspected, who should I contact and when?

Inspection requests should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. no less than 48-hours prior to the desired inspection time and may or may not require delays of up to seven (7) business days depending on City personnel schedules. It is the Owner’s responsibility to contact the Utility as early as possible and maintain a schedule that will allow for City inspection. Failure to allow inspection may result in rejection of work completed and require additional work to expose existing installations or complete reinstallation of the work at the Owner’s cost. In general, the City will inspect projects continuously during the work but with limited staff, immediate response to projects is not always possible.