For more information please contact the Manitowoc County Planning and Park Commission at (920) 683-4185.

Including the maintenance fee on individual tax bills allows Manitowoc County to greatly reduce the administrative costs of the program. These cost savings are realized through reduced postage, staff time, and enforcement action.

The Manitowoc County Planning and Park Commission and Manitowoc County Comptrollers office amortized a budget for the next 10 years that includes the total cost of administering the maintenance program. Associated cost includes postage, staff time, vehicle expenses, data processing costs, contracted services and asset depreciation. Charging the $10.00 maintenance fee will allow the County to break even.

All owners of POWTS (septic systems) in Manitowoc County will be charged an annual fee of $10.00 to be used to administer the maintenance program. This modest fee is designed to cover the cost of information collection and administration of the program and will be included on the property tax bill you will receive in December.

Landowners who are required to update their septic system as part of the new requirements may be eligible to apply for a Wisconsin Fund Grant through the Manitowoc County Planning and Zoning Department if certain conditions are met. Since 1987, 736 residents in Manitowoc County have received a total of $2,147,559.00 in financial assistance through this program. For further information call please call (920) 683-4185

Maintenance of your POWTS includes pumping of the septic tank if the combined sludge and scum volume is more than 1/3 of the tank. In cases of minimal use were the sludge and scum volume is less that 1/3 of the tank, pumping may be defered for one year provided a visual inspection is completed.

Every three years, you will receive a card from the Manitowoc County Planning and Park Commission notifying you that it is time to have your POWTS visually inspected and your septic tank pumped. Once these actions are completed, the licensed professional who inspected the system completes the card and then returns it to the address provided.

POWTS is an acronym for Private On-site Wastewater Treatment System, another term regularly used for septic system. POWTS includes conventional, mound, at-grade, pre-treatment, dosed conventional, and holding tanks systems.

These laws seek to protect our ground and surface water, both in the interest of public health and of the environment. We can be proud that Manitowoc County has taken a lead role and is one of only a few counties in Wisconsin actively working towards 100% compliance with Comm. 83. As we continue to look for ways to protect Manitowoc County’s most valuable natural resources, the support of rural landowners is critical.

In 2000, the State of Wisconsin completed a comprehensive update of the rules that govern the installation and operation of septic systems in the State of Wisconsin. According to Comm. 83.54(4) of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, all septic systems that existed prior to July 1, 2000 shall be incorporated into a County Maintenance Program.

The Maintenance program, mandated by the State of Wisconsin, is designed to ensure that POWTS (septic systems) throughout the county are functioning properly. This is accomplished by requiring that all POWTS are regularly maintained on a three year maintenance schedule. Maintenance includes a visual inspection and pumping of the POWTS if required.