Infiltration & Inflow Monitoring

Removing rainwater from the wastewater system is important to reduce overflows at the regional treatment plant. Much of the excess water comes from downspouts, sump pumps, and area drains improperly connected to the wastewater collection system.  Flow monitoring and flow modeling provide measurements and data used to determine estimates of Inflow & Infiltration (I & I). Flow meters are placed in varying locations throughout the wastewater collection system to take measurements and identify general I & I source areas. The City of Springfield updated the Wastewater Master Plan (2024-2045) to prioritize work on the wastewater collection system and to develop cost-effective solutions, and this master plan includes I & I topics.

Wastewater Master Plan 2024-2045

Click to open the Wastewater Master Plan PDF.

Cities create master plans to guide important public services. Springfield’s current Wastewater Master Plan (2024-2045) focuses on the wastewater collection system. It’s the City’s key planning document to prioritize work and recommend the most cost-effective solutions.

Based on a detailed analysis of current and future wastewater needs, the plan includes detailed data on the current system, identifies 20 needed improvement projects, and lists construction and maintenance required to keep things running smoothly. It also outlines possible funding sources.

This plan will guide Springfield over a 20-year span as we develop and maintain an efficient public wastewater collection system that can accommodate population growth and other changes.

Clean Water & Wastewater

The City of Springfield is responsible for providing administration services to the Metropolitan Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC). To learn more about the MWMC and view their video series, check out their YouTube channel.

The City’s Operations Division maintains the wastewater collection system. To keep our collection system and the regional wastewater treatment facility operating properly, please remember the wastewater system is designed to convey and treat human waste and toilet paper, nothing else.

Repairing Infiltration & Inflow Sources

Repair techniques include pipe patching and relining, maintenance hole repair and replacement, disconnecting illegal plumbing, drains, and roof downspouts. The City of Springfield has engaged in an active rehabilitation effort to reduce the entry of I & I into the collections system, including removing and replacing pipe that was more than 60 years old.

Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) Program

Watch this video to learn how the Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) Program strategically guides all things wastewater in Springfield.

Picasso of the Pipes

Sitting in Springfield City Hall is an art installation that’s been enjoyed by community members for decades. It’s a mosaic of 5,200 items pieced together to create a city seal, and they all came from Springfield’s wastewater system. Artist Russell Ziolkowski created the piece in the early 1970s, using items he found cleaning wastewater pipes as a Springfield Public Works employee. Russell’s artwork received national media attention and has become a beloved piece of Springfield’s history.

Watch the video below to learn more about Russell’s art and his story. Video credit to former KEZI reporter Heather Hintze.