Citizens Energy Group’s Indianapolis Septic Tank Elimination Project (Indy STEP)
Since 2016 Citizens Energy Group has been working with Indianapolis homeowners to address the environmental and health hazards from failing septic tanks by providing sewer service to many neighborhoods on septic systems through the Septic Tank Elimination Program (STEP).
Septic systems are effective wastewater disposal systems, when used in the correct environment and maintained effectively; however, they pose a health and environmental risk when they fail or are not maintained properly. When septic systems fail, sewage can work its way to the surface and begin to pool, creating a public health hazard. When sewage pools, private drinking water wells are at a higher risk for contamination. When it rains, the raw sewage pool runs off into streams and ditches throughout the neighborhood and can pollute large areas very quickly.
To address water contamination from failing septic tanks and sewer overflows Indianapolis negotiated a Combined Sewer Overflow Consent Decree and Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) with the Environmental Protection Agency. The Consent Decree is an agreement outlining a 20-year plan to curb the overflow of raw sewage from combined sewers into waterways. The Consent Decree requires capture and treatment of 97 percent of the sewage overflows in the Fall Creek watershed and 95 percent in the White River watershed. Citizens’ Indy STEP is one part of the plan to address Citizens’ federally mandated decree. By 2025, overflows will only be allowed to occur during two storms per year on Fall Creek and four storms per year on White River and other waterways.
For this reason, Citizens prioritizes STEP project areas by a number of factors, the primary of which are:
- Housing density
- Proximity to a floodplain;
- And the presence of residential drinking water wells.
The goal of STEP is to improve water quality, not eliminate the use of septic systems in areas where water quality impacts are not as great.
In 2016, Citizens Energy Group adopted a new approach to providing sewer service to properties currently being served by septic systems in Indianapolis. As part of this new program, property owners are able to pay one fee for connection and construction to Citizens Energy Group if they agree to participate in the Citizens Installation Program within the allotted time. You can find out more about Citizens’ Septic Tank Elimination Program here, including details on completed and in progress projects.
Since 2011, more than 7,000 properties have been connected to the sewer system through the Indianapolis Septic Tank Elimination Program with Covalen supporting every step of the way.
Covalen is proud to be a key partner in Citizens’ Indy STEP. Covalen supports the Indianapolis Septic Tank Elimination Program in the following ways:
- Providing expert advice on the design and installation of pressure sewer systems
- As the primary equipment supplier of E/One grinder pump stations and parts
- Certifying that the system installations adhere to manufacturer guidelines
- Starting up the pumps after they are installed, and
- Providing certified service to homeowners throughout the life of their systems.
For additional information on Citizens Indy STEP project, read the STEP Program Guide.
Homeowner Resources: How to Care for Your Grinder Pump
Homeowners participating in the Citizen’s Indy STEP program will become the new owners of an E/One grinder pump station. Once a grinder pump station has been installed, the homeowner is responsible for the upkeep of the grinder pump system.
To support homeowners with ensuring they get the longest life and best performance out of their grinder pumps, we have compiled resources for you on how to care for your pump as well as some opportunities to upgrade your system.
Resources for Caring for Your E/One Grinder Pump
About the E/One Extreme Series Grinder Pump & Pressure Sewer Systems (PDF)
Learn about pressure sewer systems and how the E/One pump is perfectly engineered for the residential grinder pump application.
E/One Owner’s Guide: How to Care for Your Pump (PDF)
Find out what you need to know about maintaining your E/One grinder pump.
It’s a Toilet, Not a Trashcan (PDF)
Familiarize yourself on what you can and can’t flush down the toilet.
Instructions & Warranty Information for Outdoor E/One Simplex Stations (D-Series & W-Series) (PDF)
General use instructions and information about the E/One limited manufacturer warranty.
Upgrade Options
Indy STEP homeowners have the following options to upgrade their grinder pump systems and service.
Protect Your Pump from Brownouts, Over-Pressure and Run Dry Conditions
Upgrade your alarm panel to the Protect Plus panel to protect your pump from environmental variables.
Monitor Your Pump Performance & Receive Remote Downtime Alerts
Upgrade your alarm panel to the Sentry Advisor panel to receive all the protections of the Protect Plus and receive notifications when your pump fails.
Keep Your Pump’s Performance at Its Best
For peace of mind, sign up for Covalen’s Annual Service Performance Plan. Our annual 12-point inspection will ensure your pump is operating according to the manufacturer’s specifications and look for any maintenance issues that should be addressed before you lose wastewater service.
Enhance Your Yard with a Rock Cover
Conceal your grinder pump lid by purchasing an E/One grinder pump rock cover to help your grinder pump blend into your landscaping. A variety of colors are available.
How to Get Service on Your E/One Grinder Pump
Covalen Service Center is the only certified E/One Service Center approved by Citizens Energy Group to provide grinder pump service to Indy STEP homeowners. With more than 26 years of experience working on E/One grinder pumps, we will make sure you get the most out of your pump. We will prioritize repairing an existing pump instead of replacing it when it is the best value for our customers. When working with Covalen to repair or replace your E/One grinder pump, Indy STEP participants receive:
- Factory certified service
- Discounted service rates
- Discounts on replacement E/One pumps; and
- Coverage under E/One’s manufacturer’s warranty when repairs qualify
In addition, Covalen will generally have access to the installation records and service history for your system to provide additional insight into your pump’s performance.
DO YOU NEED SERVICE ON YOUR E/ONE GRINDER PUMP? CALL COVALEN SERVICE CENTER AT 317-789-8900.
Covalen is factory-certified by Environment One (E/One) to diagnose, repair, and replace the E/One grinder pumps provided through Citizens’ Indy STEP. We specialize in working on pumps manufactured by E/One, the pioneering leader of residential grinder pumps. With more than 26 years of experience repairing E/One grinder pumps our team has seen it all.
With proper upkeep and maintenance, E/One grinder pumps have a mean time between service calls of 8-10 years. And since the E/One pumps are designed to be repaired and rebuilt we regularly see pumps that last 20 years or more.