Show All Answers

1. What should I do if my sewer backs up?

The first thing to do is call a plumber. Most blockages are found to be in the lateral which is the owner's responsibility to have cleaned and repaired if necessary. The owner is responsible for the lateral from their house to the main in the street. If the plumber finds the blockage is in the sewer main, your plumber should contact us at 607-737-6223, so we can discuss the issue with him and check the sewer main. This number is monitored after regular business hours as well.

2. Where do I pay my bill?

The County is undergoing a substantial multi-year construction project to regionalize wastewater treatment at the Milton Street location. To ensure public safety, the Sewer District regrets that in-person payments cannot be accepted at the Administrative Offices on Milton St. until further notice, as we are currently undergoing significant construction. 

 The following methods will be accepted for payment: 

 Mail: Checks and money orders can be mailed to 600 Milton Street, Elmira, NY 14904 

Online: Credit card payments are accepted at https://Sewer.ChemungCountyNY.gov/ 

Drop Off: Dropbox for check and money order payment at Chemung County Treasurer’s Office:

                    320 E. Market Street, 

                    Elmira, NY 14901.

 Please include the bar-coded payment stub with your payment. Please do not leave cash in the DropBox.

Payments accepted by check, money order, or credit card with an additional fee. Check payments can be mailed to the Administrative Offices at the same address. No payments after October 31.

3. Do you accept waste from RVs?

Yes we do.  County residents can currently use the dump station located at the Chemung County Fairgrounds. To ensure public safety, the Sewer District regrets that RV waste cannot be accepted at the  Milton St. facility until further notice, as we are currently undergoing significant construction. There is no fee for this service.

4. Where does the wastewater come from?

It comes from toilets, household cleaning, bathing and cooking, as well as industrial cleaning and manufacturing. There are also other sources such as rainwater. We especially see a large increase during heavy thunderstorms or when snow is melting.

5. What happens to the wastewater after you treat it?

The clean water leaving the plant is discharged to the Chemung River.

6. How clean is the treated wastewater?

Both of the Chemung County Sewer District's Wastewater Treatment Facilities are advanced secondary treatment facilities. As such, the water we discharge is comparable to the quality of natural surface waters, and is safe for fish and other aquatic life. Both the effluent and the receiving waters are monitored to make sure New York State and Environmental Protection Agency standards are met.

7. Do you give tours of the wastewater plant?

Yes, we do offer educational tours free of charge. For safety reasons, minimum age for school groups is 5th grade. Please call 607-733-2887 for details and to set up a tour.

8. How much wastewater is treated in a day?

About 24.2 million gallons per day between the two treatment plants; or the volume required to fill 36 Olympic sized swimming pools.