The MIS conveys flow to Jones Island or South Shore for treatment. Clean water is discharged to Lake Michigan, while solids removed during treatment are turned into useable products such as Milorganite, Agri-Life and lightweight aggregate. There is no flow in storm sewers. Sanitary sewage travels from property owners' lateral sewers into local sanitary sewers, owned by the municipality. The MIS conveys flow to Jones Island or South Shore for treatment.
Clean water is discharged to Lake Michigan.
If the plants cannot handle all of the flow in the MIS, it is diverted to the deep tunnels through the collector sewer and dropshaft, where it is stored until the plants have the capacity to treat it. Sanitary sewage travels from property owners' lateral sewers into local combined sewers, owned by the municipality, where it mixes with stormwater. The process is then the same as in the separated sewer area. Sanitary sewage travels from property owners' lateral sewers into local sanitary sewers. The MIS conveys flow to the treatment plants.