Our Foraker, Southwest, & Tecumseh Wastewater Project for Elkhart County, Indiana has won a 2026 Merit Award from ACEC Indiana!
The Foraker, Southwest, and Tecumseh Wastewater Regionalization Project delivered a long-term regional solution for three unsewered, low-income communities by replacing failing septic systems that posed persistent public health risks. Using Septic Tank Effluent Pump (STEP) technology, Lochmueller implemented a cost-effective, low-pressure STEP network conveying flow to the City of Nappanee, replacing 133 failing septic systems with 137 STEP units and installing 71,500 LF of low-pressure force main. The project eliminated septic discharges contributing to water quality impairments in Weaver Ditch and Yellow Creek, improving community health and environmental conditions.
Designed for low-density areas where conventional systems are often cost-prohibitive, the STEP approach maintained a minimum 1 fps velocity while allowing future growth through hydraulic modeling and IDEM-approved alternative technical standards. Corrosion-resistant materials, including composite air release valves and downstream manhole linings, help mitigate H2S impacts without chemical feed systems, reducing long-term operational complexity.
Economically, the project provided a sustainable, low-maintenance solution that kept user rates affordable, further reducing the overall financial burden. The work also supported long-term sustainability by properly abandoning septic systems that had outlived their useful life and by integrating fiber optic infrastructure to advance digital equity as Elkhart County expands its network.
