281.695 Aids to municipalities for prevention and abatement of water pollution.

(1) As used in this section “municipality" means any city, town, village, town sanitary district, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district or metropolitan sewerage district.

(2) Any municipality is authorized to apply for and accept grants or any other aid which the United States Government or any agency thereof has authorized or may hereafter authorize to be given or made to the several states of the United States or to any political subdivisions or agencies thereof within the states for the construction of public improvements, including all necessary action preliminary thereto, the purpose of which is to aid in the prevention or abatement of water pollution.

(3) Any municipality is further authorized to accept contributions and other aid from commercial, industrial and other establishments for the purpose of aiding in the prevention or abatement of water pollution and in furtherance of such purpose to enter into contracts and agreements with such commercial, industrial and other establishments covering the following:

(a) The collection, treatment and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes from commercial, industrial and other establishments;

(b) The use and operation by such municipality of sewage collection, treatment or disposal facilities owned by any such commercial, industrial and other establishment;

(c) The coordination of the sewage collection, treatment or disposal facilities of the municipality with the sewage collection, treatment or disposal facilities of any commercial, industrial and other establishment.

(4) When determined by its governing body to be in the public interest any municipality is authorized to enter into and perform contracts, whether long-term or short-term, with any industrial establishment or establishments providing for sewage or other facilities, including the operation thereof, to abate or reduce the pollution of waters caused in whole or in part by discharges of industrial wastes by the industrial establishment or establishments on such terms as may be reasonable and proper.

(5) Any municipality may participate in the state financial assistance program for soil and water resources protection established under s. 281.55, 281.57 or 281.65 and may enter into agreements with the department of natural resources for that purpose. Any municipality may participate in the clean water fund program under ss. 281.58 and 281.59 and may enter into agreements with the department of administration and the department of natural resources for that purpose. Any county may participate in the state financial assistance program for soil and water resources protection established under s. 92.14 and may enter into agreements with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection for that purpose.

(6) Any municipality is authorized to enter into contracts with a nonprofit-sharing corporation for the municipality to design and construct the projects it will sublease from the department of natural resources pursuant to s. 281.55 (6) (b).

(7) The provisions of this section shall not be construed by way of limitation or restriction of the powers otherwise granted municipalities but shall be deemed as an addition to and a complete alternative to such powers.

History: 1975 c. 197; 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (39) (d); 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1987 a. 27, 197, 399, 403; 1989 a. 56, 366; 1995 a. 227; 1999 a. 150 s. 370; Stats. 1999 s. 281.695.