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Sewer Overflows
A sewer overflow is a discharge of untreated, raw sewage into local waterways. Overflows occur when there is too much wastewater for the sewer system or treatment plants to handle, such as after heavy rainstorms. To relieve pressure in the system and minimize backups into homes and businesses, the excess sewage is released into local waterways. State and federal regulations require MSD and other sewer agencies to reduce overflows and meet Clean Water Act requirements.
Topics discussed at public meetings & open houses on Sewer Overflows included:
- Why overflows happen (See Why Do Our Sewers Overflow When It Rains? and What is the Problem? for additional details.)
- MSD's options for controlling overflows from the combined sewer system
- Solutions currently under consideration
"We [shared] important information at the Open Houses," said Martin Umberg, P.E. Umberg is a Sewers Chief Engineer at MSD and manages the utility's Wet Weather Program. "But more importantly, this [was] an opportunity for the community to share with us their comments and priorities for the projects we are proposing to address these overflows. The feedback we get from the community will help us as we finalize our plan."
The public comment Open Houses (resources & fact sheets) were designed to gather public input on three study areas in MSD's plan:
- Mill Creek Watershed (central Hamilton County)
- Muddy Creek/Rapid Run Watershed (western Hamilton County)
- Little Miami River/Duck Creek Watershed (eastern Hamilton County)
