The Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services operates and maintains wastewater collection, transportation and treatment systems in the unincorporated areas of the County and in certain incorporated areas.
The County operates and maintains a wastewater collection, transportation, and treatment system in the unincorporated areas of the County and in certain municipalities. Those areas comprise of a district known as the Summit County Metropolitan Sewer District (the “Sewer District”). The sanitary sewer system in the Sewer District is managed by the Executive’s Department of Sanitary Sewer Services (“DSSS”). DSSS prepares sewer bills and collects the user fees and other charges for deposit into the County treasury. The funds managed by DSSS are enterprise funds and DSSS is not dependent upon the County’s general operating funds. The County Council has the authority and the duty to establish the rates and charges imposed on users of the sanitary sewer system. The Executive, through DSSS, makes recommendations to the Council concerning those rates and charges based on independent consultants’ studies and the policy that the system be self-supporting.
The Sewer District is responsible for five wastewater treatment facilities, 115 wastewater pumping stations and approximately 1009.46 miles of sanitary sewers transporting wastewater both to the County-owned treatment plants and to those of the cities of Akron, Barberton and Twinsburg, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, and Stark and Portage Counties. The County-owned wastewater treatment facilities include the Fishcreek and Springfield wastewater treatment plants, with operating capacities of 8.0 and 4.0 million gallons per day (“mgd”), respectively. During 2021, the Fishcreek plant processed an average daily flow of 4.5804 mgd, while the Springfield plant processed an average daily flow of 2.7679 mgd. At the close of 2021, the non-depreciated value of sewer system assets totaled approximately $210 million.
- DSSS Locations (Page)
- Sanitary Sewer Services Organizational Chart (PDF, 43.6k)
- Mission, Vision and Values (Page)
- DSSS Facebook (Link)
- Sanitary Sewer Services Rate Adjustments (Page)
- Environmental Sustainability Efforts (Page)
- Hudson-Area-K-Project (Link)
- Q-161 Shepard Hills I&I Project (Link)
Main Office
Russell M. Pry Building
Monday through Friday
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(330) 926-2400
(800) 828-2087
Fishcreek Water Reclamation Facility
Plant 25
24 hours, 7 days a week
(330) 926-2400
(800) 828-2087
Operations Management Facility
Monday through Friday
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(330) 926-2400
(800) 828-2087
Upper Tuscarawas Water Reclamation Facility
Plant 36
Monday through Friday
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(330) 926-2400
(800) 828-2087
- Jan 30, 2024 Summit County accepts Peninsula into sewer district (Summit County, OH)
- Jan 25, 2023 County Executive debuts new sewer operations and maintenance facility (Summit County, OH)
- Dec 6, 2021 DSSS Sewer Rate Adjustments (Akron, Ohio)
- Oct 20, 2020 Operations Fleet Maintenance Facility Limited Environmental Review (Summit County, OH)
- May 1, 2020 Operations Fleet Maintenance Facility Project Q-614 Request for Public Comment (Akron, OH)
- Dec 1, 2019 Mayor Judge and Executive Shapiro Announce City Public Service Director Taking County Position; Replacement Named (Akron, OH)
- Feb 1, 2019 Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services Launches Online Payment Portal (Akron, OH)
Sanitary Sewer Emergency
In the event of a sewer emergency, please call (330) 926-2400 or 1-800-828-2087.
Your Sanitary Sewer Bill
Your sewer bill is calculated either by the meter reads/usage we receive from the water department or it is a flat rate. All accounts are billed on a quarterly basis.
To start or stop service call our customer service/billing line at (330) 926-2400.
For title companies, fax the sewer verification form to our Billing Fax line at (330) 926-2470.
If it is a metered account, the previous owner is responsible for contacting the water department for a final read.
All accounts are set up in the legally deeded homeowner’s name, which is the name the deed is recorded with at the Summit County Fiscal Office’s website.
If the home is for sale, the previous owner must call to inform us, and/or the title company must send a sewer verification form for account status. Any unpaid debt is an encumbrance of the property and becomes the debt of the buyer/new owner.
Apply or Pay for a Sanitary Sewer Permit
https://cityworks.summitoh.net/PublicAccess/template/login.aspx
Combined Annual Financial Report (CAFR)
Summit County's CAFRs are available at https://fiscaloffice.summitoh.net/index.php/documents-a-forms/viewcategory/8.
Forms and Information
- Industrial Sewer Customers (Page)
- User Fee Discount Guidelines (PDF, 118.2k)
- User Fee Discount Cover Sheet (PDF, 90.9k)
- User Fee Discount Form--Physician Verification (PDF, 87.0k)
- DSSS Sample Sewer Bill (PDF, 174.5k) Sample Sewer Bill
- Sewer Backup Cleaning Companies (PDF, 45.0k)
- Sewer Connection Verification Form (PDF, 183.5k)
- Residential Sewer Backup Report Form (Form) Sewer Backup Report
- Environmental Services Sewer Backup Cleaning & Sanitation Claims (PDF, 30.4k) Backup Claims Ordinance
Permission to contstruct sanitary sewers is granted by the State of Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA), the County of Summit Department of Sanitary Sewer Services (DSSS) and the Council of the County of Summit when appropriate. DSSS has authority to stop any sanitary sewer construction not in compliance with current regulations and standards.
Plans may be submitted to DSSS via OneDrive (to be completed)
- Replacement of Sanitary Sewer at the Gorge in Stow (Page)
- Standard Drawings and Procedure (PDF, 7394.1k)
- Plan Submittal Instruction Guide (PDF, 269.0k)
DSSS is continously engaged in projects to improve operations. Many projects are considerd major maintanence and infrastructure. In recent years, DSSS has also taken steps to utilize the latest technology advances.
- Major Maintenance Programs (Page)
- Technology Initiatives (Page)
For a list of certified excavators, please call 330-926-2414
Help Documents:
- Registrant Requirement Letter (PDF, 124.5k)
- Public Access User Guide (PDF, 1548.1k)
- DSSS Tap-In and Permit Fee Adjustments (Page)
- Plan Submittal Instruction Guide (PDF, 269.0k)
The new sewer rates were determined following an intensive rate study project conducted by Raftelis, an independent financial consultant. The study sought to assess how DSSS can adequately fund increasing costs while minimizing rates for customers, and setting fair, equitable and affordable rates. DSSS customers will still pay lower rates than customers utilizing other regional sewer service providers. Under the new rates, the average DSSS residential customer will pay $53.74 per month. The same customer would pay $68.35 or $74.25 if they were an Akron or NEORSD customer. A similar comparison is seen with commercial customers.
The complete rate study can be found below.
- Department of Sanitary Sewer Services Rate Study (PDF, 436.1k)
The new sewer rates will take effect on January 1, 2022
Please contact the DSSS Billing department at 330-926-2400.
We are a division under the County Executive and governed by Codified Ordinance Part 9.
Sanitary sewers are small diameter pipes that are not designed to carry waste water. In Summit County, sanitary sewers are commonly found in newer areas of Summit County and suburban "bedroom communities" that surround the county. Waste water is handled by a separate line.
During heavy rains, however, waste water can enter sanitary sewer lines through manholes, defective sewer pipes, and illicit connections (e.g., downspout connected directly to the sanitary sewer). If the sanitary sewer line is filled beyond capacity, it will overflow through sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) relief structures (constructed as part of manholes) or through manhole lids into local waterways, adjacent yards, and streets. SSOs are considered a greater danger to public health than a CSO, and therefore are not permitted under the Clean Water Act.
A sewer overflow is a discharge of raw sewage mixed with waste water that overflows from a sewer into local streams and rivers. Overflows occur when there is too much wastewater for the sewer system, pump station, or treatment plants to handle, such as after heavy rainstorms. To relieve pressure in the system and minimize backups into homes and businesses, excess sewage is discharged into local waterways. State and federal regulations require the Summit County Department of Sanitary Sewer Services (DSSS) and sewer agencies across the country to reduce overflows and meet Clean Water Act requirements.
Sewage overflows affect the quality of water in our streams and rivers, can impact public health, and are aesthetically unpleasant.
After heavy rains, many Summit County streams and rivers do not meet Ohio state standards for recreational activities such as wading or swimming. Habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms is also degraded.
Overflows are a main source of E. coli bacteria in local water. If you swallow water with high levels of E. coli, you can become ill. Raw sewage can also contain viruses and other pathogens.
Sewer overflows also often result in odors and leave unsightly sewer debris behind.
Yes. Summit County is not alone in this problem. There are roughly 772 communities across the U.S. with aging sewer systems, according to the U.S. EPA.
These older, urban communities are mainly located in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions and the Pacific Northwest.
Many are under federal orders to resolve their sewer overflow issues. Regionally, these areas include Northern Kentucky and Louisville, Columbus and Toledo, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis.
You can help solve the problem of raw sewage and pollution in our waterways. Everyone has a role: individual citizens, government, non-profit organizations, businesses, industry, and community groups. Here's how to help:
Keep wastewater out of the sewer system whenever possible through the use of green infrastructure (rain gardens, pervious paving, green roofs, rain barrels);
Keep certain materials out of your sink drains, floor drains, toilet, or sewers.
Inflow and Infiltration water is called "clear water" (although it may be dirty) to distinguish it from normal sanitary sewage water in the sewer system.
Inflow and infiltration is defined as groundwater and stormwater that enter a sewer system. Collection systems can be damaged when they are forced to transport more flow than they are designed to handle. Increased effluent also raises costs for wastewater treatment facilities, because harmless stormwater and groundwater mix with sewage. In many cases, inflow and infiltration (I&I) accounts for up to 45% of the annual flow to treatment plants.
Exceeding the capacity of the collection system can result in discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment. This discharge may come from collection system components or from a treatment system that doesn’t have the capacity to treat the water. Infiltration can also cause pipe structure failures due to erosion of soil support, and ground subsidence due to erosion of underground soil.
Infiltration occurs when groundwater seeps into sewer pipes through cracks, leaky pipe joints and/or deteriorated manholes.
Inflow is stormwater that enters the sewer system through rain leaders, basement sump pumps or foundation drains illegally connected to the sewer.
Together, inflow and infiltration place a burden on collection systems and wastewater treatment facilities.
No, only flush toilet paper. Disinfecting wipes and other items should be properly disposed of in the trash, not the toilet. These wipes and other items do not break down in sewer or septic systems and can damage your home’s internal plumbing as well as local wastewater collection systems. As a result, flushing these wipes can clog your toilet and/or create sewage backups into your home or your neighborhood.
Additionally, these wipes can cause significant damage to pipes, pumps, and other wastewater treatment equipment. Sewer backups can be a threat to public health and present a challenge to our water utilities by diverting resources away from the essential work being done to treat and manage our nation’s wastewater. Disinfecting wipes, baby wipes, and paper towels should NEVER be flushed.
One of the primary objectives for the cost-of-service study was to ensure that rates between residential flat-rate and metered customers was fair and equitable. The County has been working toward this equity for several years, including the reduction of the flat rate by 10% in 2015. Keeping the flat rates stable for 2023 and 2024 will ensure rate equity between residential metered and non-metered customers.
Summit County last raised sewer rates in 2006, with the final rate increase implemented in 2011. Since that time, the cost for 3rd party treatment of sewage has more than doubled, creating a $14.3 million increase in costs. This increase has created an estimated $7.8 million deficit in the sewer budget, with additional deficits expected without a change in rates. DSSS must also increase revenue to fund important infrastructure improvements in the coming years to maintain a well-functioning sewer district.
METERED per 100 cubic feet
Current Rate |
2022 (16%) |
2023 (16%) |
2024 (7.5%) |
2025 (6.5%) |
2026 (6.5%) |
$6.67 | $7.74 | $8.98 | $9.65 | $10.28 | $10.94 |
FLAT RATE per month - No increase for FY22 and FY23
Current Rate |
2022 (0%) |
2023 (0%) |
2024 (7.5%) |
2025 (6.5%) |
2026 (6.5%) |
$56.03 | $56.03 | $56.03 | $60.23 | $64.15 | $68.32 |
DSSS will continue to offer a 10% reduction to eligible customers (income-based) and offer an additional 25% for eligible flat-rate customers in 2022 and 2023. DSSS also offers the Summer Sprinkling Program, a 10% discount for all residential customers in June, July and August. Call 330-926-2400 for more information about these programs.
Residents in need of financial assistance can also apply for sewer assistance at http://www.summitcountycares.org/ or by calling 2-1-1.
Residential and commercial metered and flat-rate customers in the communities listed below will be affected. DSSS customers represent approximately 9% of county residents.
Bath Township, Boston Heights Township, Coventry Township (Portage Lakes), Copley Township, Cuyahoga Falls (Northampton), Fairlawn, Green, Hudson, Lakemore, Macedonia, Munroe Falls, New Franklin Township, Northfield Center Township, Reminderville, Sagamore Hills Township, Silver Lake, Springfield Township, Stow, Tallmadge, Twinsburg Township.
Note: Several municipalities listed are served by multiple sewer providers. Please consult your sewer bill to verify which service you receive.