Wastewater

The City of Manhattan's Wastewater Treatment Plant is an activated sludge and biological nutrient removal plant with a design capacity of 11 million per day. The plant is staffed by state certified operators 24/7/365.

The City has 260 miles of sanitary sewer lines and 26 lift stations strategically located throughout the community that pump wastewater from homes and businesses to the treatment plant so it can be properly treated and put back into the environment.

The City also operates and maintains two lift stations for Riley County and Pottawatomie County.
Wastewater Process

Sewer Maintenance


Sewer maintenance staff maintain a sanitary sewer collection system that consists of approximately  260 miles of sanitary sewer gravity and force main sewers and more than 5,400 manholes. Annual maintenance includes televising, inspecting and cleaning more than 80 miles of sanitary sewer per year in order to minimize sewer blockages and potential backups in both public and private sewer lines.

The city also oversees an annual maintenance program for manhole rehabilitation and cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) sanitary sewer relining to increase the life of the infrastructure and reduce stormwater inflow and infiltration.

Report It!

Sewer backups and/or odors can occur, and you should report them to the Wastewater Division if you experience either. Report it by calling 785-587-4530 during business hours. If this is an after-hours, weekend or holiday emergency, call 785-587-4555. These numbers are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Wastewater Division Resources


  1. How much wastewater is treated on a daily basis at the Wastewater Treatment Plant?
  2. Who will check to see if a sewer backup is my problem or the city's?
View All