HISTORY

After creation of The Gary Sanitary District in 1938, The Board of Sanitary Commissioners initiated a construction program that included several interceptors and a wastewater treatment plant. This original plant was placed in service, at the present site, in 1940. The treatment facility was an activated sludge process designed to provide secondary treatment, with nominal capacity of 20 million gallons per day (MGD) to 40 millions gallons per day (MGD)Expansion and improvements began in 1962 to increase the treatment capacity of the plant.

Gary, like other municipalities across this nation, must manage stormwater to protect people's health and our environment. Stormwater is runoff from a rainstorm or melting snow. Urban stormwater runs off roofs, streets, and parking lots into sewers, storm drains and ultimately, our rivers and lakes. We all live in a watershed. A watershed is the land that water flows across or under on its way to a stream, river, or lake. We need to keep our yards, driveways, streets, and business operations clean so that the storm water that flows across our land does not end up polluting the Grand Calumet or Little Calumet Rivers and Lake Michigan.

Improper storage and handling of oils, fuels, antifreeze, fertilizers, pesticides, industrial and commercial chemicals and wastes can expose these pollutants to storm water that washes into drains and waterways. Homeowners, business owners, and municipalities can protect water quality by keeping their properties clean and free of litter and managing chemicals and wastes properly.