Sewer Service Area Planning
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Sewer Service Area Planning

DNR has approved updates to the Policies & Criteria for the Review of Sewer Service Area Amendments on April 8, 2026. New applicants for Sewer Service Area Amendments should begin referring to new documentation. Please refer to final documentation provided below.

Staff presented a detailed overview of the background and proposed changes at the December 11, 2025, Commission meeting. A Public Hearing was held at the January 8, 2026, Commission meeting and Commission action was taken at the March 12, 2026, Commission meeting (link to CARPC Resolution No. 2026-05). Refer to the Meeting Information page for more information and recordings of each meeting.
 
A summary of public commentary received and CARPC staff responses is available at this link. An overview of key changes is available at this link. 

Overview

Sewer Service Areas (SSA)—including Urban Service Areas (USA) and Limited Service Areas (LSA)—identify where sanitary sewer service already exists and adjacent lands most suitable for new development. Within these areas, Environmental Corridors are delineated identifying areas of environmentally sensitive features where development would have an adverse impact on water quality (see Environmental Corridors webpage for additional details).

SSA planning plays an important role in keeping Wisconsin’s water safe for drinking, recreation and diverse aquatic life. SSA planning is not intended to restrict a community’s growth, obligate wastewater treatment plants to provide sewer throughout the planning boundary, and/or affect community annexation policy. Planning accommodates future growth, while at the same time consolidating wetland, shoreland, and floodplain protection programs within a community-based plan for sewered development.

Effective service area planning and policies relating to wastewater collection and treatment are best developed in tandem with comprehensive planning at a regional and local level. The Capital Area Regional Planning Commission (CARPC) conducts water quality management planning, including SSA planning activities, under contract with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Sewer Service Area Amendments

Changes to SSA boundaries allow for a careful and structured approach to the expansion of urban areas to meet the needs of a growing region, while managing, protecting, and enhancing groundwater and surface water quality. Any change to SSA boundaries — including USA and LSA boundaries — requires an amendment to the Dane County Water Quality Plan (see Wisconsin DNR SSA Planning for additional info). These amendments are referred to as SSA amendments. This incremental planning approach considers the interconnected relationship and impact of land development on water resources and ecosystem resources on an areawide basis.

In general, the SSA amendment process includes a formal application, public hearing, review by CARPC staff, Commission action on a Water Quality Management Letter (WQML), and Wisconsin DNR final review and decision. The cost of CARPC staff time to administer SSA amendments is covered through direct billing to the applicant, as established through CARPC Resolution No. 2026-06 (link below). Mapping of all sewer service area amendments and associated documentation is available to view and download on our Open Data Portal.

Current Policy Documents

Current Guidance Documents

Historical Documents (for reference only)

Sewer Service Area Amendments

CARPC Res # *Sewer Service AreaAmendment NameApplicantStatus of AmendmentSupporting Documents
Management LetterWaunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #2504Village of WaunakeeApproved by DNR

DC0244		1. Application


2. Application (Revised)


3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterBelleville USAVillage of Belleville
#2503		Village of BellevilleApproved by DNR

DC0243		1. Application


2. Application Supplement – Updated Zoning Map

3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterNorthern USAVillage of DeForest #2502Village of DeForestApproved by DNR

DC0242		1. Application (Revised)


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Middleton #2406City of MiddletonApproved by DNR

DC0240		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USATown of Westport #2404Town of WestportApproved by DNR

DC0239		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterVerona USANine Springs WWTP Effluent Revision
(link to website)		MMSDApproved by DNR

DC0238		1. Application


2. Supplemental Materials


3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterBrooklyn USAVillage of Brooklyn #2203Village of BrooklynApproved by DNR

DC0237		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USATown of Middleton #2405Town of MiddletonApproved by DNR

DC0236		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterMarshall USAVillage of Marshall #2303Village of MarshallApproved by DNR

DC0233		1. Application Narrative


2. Application Appendices


3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Madison #2403City of MadisonApproved by DNR

DC0235		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Madison #2402City of MadisonApproved by DNR

DC0234		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterNorthern USAVillage of DeForest #2401Village of DeForestApproved by DNR

DC2311		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterNorthern USAVillage of DeForest #2310Village of DeForestApproved by DNR

DC0231		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterVerona USACity of Verona #2309City of VeronaApproved by DNR

DC0230		1. Application


2. Revised Application


3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Madison #2307 (Minor SSA)City of MadisonApproved by DNR

DC0229		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterOregon USAVillage of Oregon #2301Village of OregonApproved by DNR

DC0228		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterStoughton USACity of Stoughton #2306City of StoughtonApproved by DNR

DC0227		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterNorthern USAVillage of DeForest #2208Village of DeForestApproved by DNR

DC0226		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterStoughton USACity of Stoughton #2304City of StoughtonApproved by DNR

DC0225		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterWaunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #2305Village of WaunakeeApproved by DNR

DC0224		1. Application (Updated 5/24/23)


2. Attachment 8.5 – Wetland Report


3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterWaunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #2302Village of WaunakeeApproved by DNR

DC0223		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Middleton #2209City of MiddletonApproved by DNR

DC0222
1. Application (Updated 1/31/23)


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterStoughton USACity of Stoughton #2207City of Stoughton“Approved by DNR

DC0221		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCottage Grove USAVillage of Cottage Grove #2205Village of Cottage GroveApproved by DNR

DC0220		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterVerona USACity of Verona #2104 City of VeronaApproved by DNR

DC-0219		1. Application


2. Attachment E – Wetland Report – Marty Parcels


3. Application Supplement – Environmental Corridor Variance Request – Cascade Site


4. Staff Analysis
Management LetterStoughton USACity of Stoughton #2204City of StoughtonApproved by DNR

DC-0215		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Middleton #2103City of MiddletonApproved by DNR

DC-2103		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Madison #2201City of MadisonApproved by DNR

DC-2201		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Madison #2105City of MadisonApproved by DNR

DC-2205		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Fitchburg #2108City of FitchburgApproved by DNR

DC-0216		1. Application


2.Staff Analysis
Management LetterWaunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #2106Village of WaunakeeApproved by DNR

DC-0216		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterLake Kegonsa LSATown of Pleasant Springs #2107Town of Pleasant SpringsApproved by DNR

DC-0214		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterStoughton USACity of Stoughton #2007City of StoughtonApproved by DNR

DC-0213		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterOregon USAVillage of Oregon
#2008 		Village of OregonApproved by DNR

DC-0210		1. Application (revised)


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterSun Prairie USACity of Sun Prairie #2102City of Sun PrairieApproved by DNR

DC-0212		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterWaunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #2101Village of WaunakeeApproved by DNR

DC-0211		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Middleton #2006City of MiddletonApproved by DNR

DC-0209		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterMt. Horeb USAVillage of Mt. Horeb #2005Village of Mt. HorebApproved by DNR

DC-0206		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Fitchburg #1803City of FitchburgApproved by DNR

DC-0206		1. Application


2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USAVillage of McFarland #2002Village of McFarlandApproved by DNR

DC-0205		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCottage Grove USAVillage of Cottage Grove #2003Village of Cottage GroveApproved by DNR

DC-0207		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
Management Letter
Cross Plains USAVillage of Cross Plains #1901Village of Cross PlainsApproved by DNR

DC-0203		1. Application

2. Appendix

3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterNorthern USAVillage of Windsor #2001Village of WindsorApproved by DNR

DC-0202		1. Application (revised)

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterVerona USACity of Verona #1904City of VeronaApproved by DNR

DC-0200		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USATown of Middleton #1903Town of MiddletonApproved by DNR

DC-0199		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterDane USAVillage of Dane #1902Village of DaneApproved by DNR

DC-0198		1. Application (revised)

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterVerona USACity of Verona #1706City of VeronaApproved by DNR

DC-0197		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterWaunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #1801Village of WaunakeeApproved by DNR

DC-0194		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
Management LetterOregon USAVillage of Oregon #1704Village of OregonApproved by DNR

DC-0193		1. Application (revised)

2. Application Attachments (revised)

3. Staff Analysis
Management LetterCentral USACity of Madison #1707City of MadisonApproved by DNR

DC-0192		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis
2017-21Waunakee USAVillage of Waunakee #1705Village of Waunakee Approved by DNR

DC-0191		1. Application (rev 11/3/17)

2. Staff Analysis
2017-14Cross Plains USAVillage of Cross Plains #1608Village of Cross PlainsApproved by DNR

DC-0190
1. Application

2. Application Attachments

3. Cross Plains 2009 Water System Study

4. Staff Analysis
2017-03Sun Prairie USACity of Sun Prairie #1610City of Sun PrairieApproved by DNR

DC-0181		1. Application

2. Staff Analysis

3. Supplemental Analysis

4. Letter of Support

5. Wetland Delineation Report
2017-08 A-B-C-DCottage Grove USAVillage of Cottage Grove #1701Village of Cottage GroveApproved by DNR

DC-0184		1. Staff Analysis (Amended)

2. Application

3. Application Maps

4. Wetland Delineation Report
Resolution was not adoptedNorthern USAVillages of DeForest and Windsor #1703Village of DeForestApproved by DNR

DC-0187		1. Application

2. Application Appendix G Water System Study

3. Staff Analysis

Please contact Nick Bower, Senior Environmental Engineer, at nickb@capitalarearpc.org for additional information.

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