Portions of the City of Cloquet’s wastewater collection system date back to 1900 and today it contains approximately 265,000 linear feet of pipe, 1,100 manholes, 10 wastewater pump stations, and 3,600 customers. Collected wastewater is conveyed to the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) treatment plant in Duluth where it is treated and discharged into Lake Superior. Sewer rates are set by the City Council and reflect the costs of operating and maintaining the collection system, as well as the charges imposed by the WLSSD for treatment.

The utilities division of Public Works is responsible for the maintenance of the sewer collection system, which includes the routine inspection of all pump stations and the maintenance of all City sewer mains. Property owners are responsible for their own sewer service pipe, which runs from the house or building to the City main in the street.

The City of Cloquet recognizes that it is in its best interest to establish a policy for effective maintenance of its sanitary sewer system and appropriate emergency response to system failures.  Procedures are identified in the Sewer Maintenance Policy are intended to prevent sewer backups, flooding, damage to private property, or to the City's sanitary sewer system along with extending the service life of all components of the sanitary system.  

Sewer Backups

If the sewer backs up in a home or business, oftentimes, an experienced person can predict where the problem is. If water backs up in the basement only when you flush a toilet, operate the clothes washer or run water in the building, chances are the problem is in the owner’s plumbing between the building and the City main in the street.

If the sewer is backing up in the basement when no water is being used, the problem is more likely to be in the City’s sewer main in the street. In this case, the owner, must react quickly and contact the City immediately. Failure to report a possible problem with a city sewer main could result in significant damage. If a person is unsure as to the source or cause of a sewer backup problem, you are well advised to call the City first.

To report a sewer backup problem and request emergency assistance, a person should call the Cloquet Public Works Department at (218) 879-6758 during normal working hours or our 24-hour emergency dispatcher at (218) 624-0391. Once a maintenance person is dispatched and has an opportunity to check out the problem, they will come to your home or business and let you know what they found. If the problem is in the City sewer main, they will take action to open the main and correct it as soon as possible. If they determine the problem is between your building and the City main, you will be advised that the maintenance of this section of sewer line is your responsibility. You will then be faced with either correcting the problem yourself or contacting a private contractor or plumber to do it for you. For more information regarding sewer backups and damage claims, click the following link:

• Sewer Backups – What Every Homeowner Should Know

Emergency Assistance with Sewer Backups

Call:

• Cloquet Public Works Department (Normal Working Hours) at (218) 879-6758
• Public Works 24-Hour Emergency Dispatcher at (218) 624-0391

Sewer Overflows - Inflow and Infiltration

Each spring and with practically every major rainfall, we have become accustom to hearing of problems that occur with the region’s sanitary sewer systems. Although much of the controversy has been focused on the City of Duluth, over the past several years, the City of Cloquet has been working closely with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) to upgrade its sanitary sewer collection and treatment system. The major focus of these improvements has been to reduce and eliminate Inflow and Infiltration (I&I).

Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) are sources of clear water, either rain or ground water that enter the sanitary sewer system. The major effect of inflow and infiltration is a significant increase in wastewater flows during the spring snowmelt and shortly after rain storms in the summer. This increase has lead to basement flooding, overflows of the sewer system and the discharge of untreated sewage into the St. Louis River and Lake Superior.

Although the City of Cloquet does not experience routine overflows of its sanitary sewer system, I&I is still an issue with Cloquet and every city that sends its wastewater to the WLSSD for treatment in Duluth. We all contribute to the problem and as a result, each community has been required to annually develop an I&I Reduction Program and to report on the status of its efforts.

In addition to the environmental concerns associated with sewer overflows, I&I results in additional treatment and pumping costs for all customers. It also reduces the available capacity of the sewer system to convey and treat wastewater properly. This is a state-wide problem that is getting more attention from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency through increased rules and regulations. The Agency is now refusing to issue sewer extension permits to cities that are not actively reducing I&I and enforcing the regulations. Obviously, such a situation can have a negative impact on our community as we try to grow and diversify our local economy.

Over the past twenty years, much of Cloquet’s efforts have been directed towards rebuilding and upgrading older portions of its collection system. Since 1985 the City has reconstructed approximately 46,400 feet of old sewer lines and leaky manholes at a cost of $1.8 million.

Private I&I Program (Grant Program)

Part of the City’s Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) Reduction Program involves an inspection of buildings in Cloquet to identify and eliminate sources of I&I. These may include things such as roof drains, down spouts, footing drain tile or sump pumps, which are improperly connected to the sanitary sewer system. These types of connections are a violation of both state law and city ordinance.

Improperly installed footing drain tile and sump pumps are a major target of the City’s inspection program. Building drain tile installed around the outside perimeter of a building’s foundation must be piped to a sump pit inside the basement. A sump pump is then installed in the pit to pump collected groundwater to the outside and away from the building. In some cases, these pits have been tied directly to the building’s sanitary sewer line and flow into the city system. In other cases, property owners have installed sump pumps, only to discharge their water into a laundry tub or floor drain. All sump pumps from building drain tile must be piped directly to the outside of the building. They cannot be run to floor drains, laundry tubs or to any sanitary sewer connection.

Improperly installed sump pumps, or drain tile systems will also have a direct impact on individual owners. If a non-compliant system is identified and it is determined that it is contributing to I&I, by City ordinance, the owner could be charged an additional sewer fee of $200 per month.

The City of Cloquet has developed a schedule for implementation of required I&I standards.  Ordinance changes to the City Code were approved by City Council on July 21, 2020 with an effective date of September 1, 2020.

Ordinance 490A requires point of sale inspections of sump pump and footing drain connections and a systematic approach for sewer laterals that does not require point of sale inspections.  The City is establishing a grant program to assist homeowners in a portion of the cost to repair leaking laterals.  The grant applicatin can be found below and is scheduled to begin September 1, 2020.  

Point of sale sump pum inspections can be scheduled by calling (218) 879-3347.  

The sewer lateral program is not tied to point of sale.  

Feel free to contact Public Works Director Caleb Peterson at (218) 879-6758 or cpeterson@cloquetmn.gov. 

Application for City of Cloquet Private Sewer Service Project Grant Funds. 

• Inflow & Infiltration – When Clean Water Causes a Problem
• Solving Sewer Overflows – A Simple Guide for Homeowner’s
• Money Down The Drain
• I&I Program for City of Cloquet Properties
• Realtor I&I Information

More Information

The City of Cloquet is a member of the Regional Stormwater Protection Team, a great resource for more information about keeping area creeks, rivers and Lake Superior clean.

• Lake Superior Duluth Streams.org
• What is Sanitary Sewer Overflow?
• What is Inflow & Infiltration?
• Footing Drains: How do I tell if they are active?

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