Our Stories

Wastewater infrastructure exists largely out of sight, yet reliability and performance of wastewater systems are essential to public health and environmental protection. Across the country, aging infrastructure, stricter environmental standards and limited resources have made it increasingly difficult for many community systems to maintain reliable, environmentally compliant service.

As the nation’s largest regulated water and wastewater utility, American Water approaches these challenges with a long-term perspective grounded in solutions that deliver economies of scale, technical expertise, capital investment, transparency and accountability.

Sheridan, Indiana

The Town of Sheridan, serving more than 3,000 residents, faced mounting wastewater challenges tied to infrastructure dating back to the 1950s. Limited capacity, especially during wet weather events, led to repeated system overloads, including 25 bypass events and 12 overflow violations under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. At the same time, the Town faced utility-related debt and lacked the capital required to address system deficiencies, prompting local leaders to pursue a long-term partnership.

After acquiring the system in 2018, Indiana American Water implemented a targeted program to restore regulatory compliance and improve system performance. A nearly $11.4 million capital investment included construction of a new wastewater treatment facility, completed in 2021, replacing the aging plant and expanding treatment capacity to 1 million gallons per day, with up to 3 million gallons per day during peak wet-weather conditions.

Today, Sheridan reflects a transition from a system defined by repeated violations to one operating on a more stable, compliant footing. Eliminating chronic overflow conditions and modernizing treatment processes has reduced pollutant loading to local waterways and positioned the system to support future growth.

Key Outcomes 

• $11.4 million invested in wastewater treatment plant and related upgrades
• Elimination of chronic bypass events and overflow violations affecting waterways
• Transition to a more stable path toward regulatory compliance under NPDES requirements
• Modernized treatment and collection systems aligned with current standards
• Reduced wet-weather overflow risk and pollutant discharge to local waterways

Click here to learn more about wastewater solutions at American Water.