Wheaton Sanitary District treats wastewater for a population of about 62,000 spread out over about 9,000 acres which includes most of Wheaton, southern Carol Stream, a small portion of Glen Ellyn, a small portion of Winfield, and portions of unincorporated DuPage County including the County complex.

Wheaton Sanitary District was created in 1925 under the Sanitary District Act of 1917. In 1926, it began treating wastewater on a 35 acre site located on Shaffner Road just north of Mack Road.

Most "Districts" including school districts, fire districts, library districts, and sanitary districts, are independent government agencies. Wastewater districts are based on drainage areas because gravity sewers are less costly than pumps. As a result, Wheaton Sanitary District is a completely separate entity from the City of Wheaton, even though the name might imply otherwise.

The District is governed by a three-member Board of Trustees appointed by the DuPage County Board Chairman. The Board meets once a month, generally on the second Wednesday of each month, in the District's administration building located at the wastewater treatment plant site. Board meetings are open to the public.

The District is not a taxing body. Most of the revenue for operations is generated from user charges, based on water consumption. A small portion of District revenue comes from fees for construction permits, connection permits, septage disposal, leachate disposal, and chemical toilet disposal.

To reduce the potential of oil being dumped into the sanitary sewer system, the District offers a used motor oil and oil filter recycling program every Saturday from 10 AM until noon. There is no charge for this service.

The District has about 67 miles of sewer lines, 1,600 manholes, and 2 lift stations. The lines are small with nearly 70% of the lines being less than 12 inches in diameter. Relative to age, about 45% of the lines are less than 25 years old, and 97% of the lines are less than 50 years old.

In addition, another 120 miles of sewer lines, not owned by the District, transport flow to the District's treatment facility.