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Sewer Overflows Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Sewer Overflows

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What is a sewer overflow?
A sewer overflow is a discharge of 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, 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.
Why are overflows a concern?
Sewer overflows increase the level of E. coli bacteria in our streams. E. coli is an indicator that human or animal waste and disease-causing organisms are in the water. Some E. coli in a waterway is natural. However, high levels have been linked to stomach cramps, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal illnesses among people who ingest or swallow contaminated water during recreation.
Are we required to eliminate sewer overflows?
There are different requirements for managing overflows from the combined sewer system (CSOs) and overflows from the sanitary sewer system (SSOs). The volume and pollution coming from CSOs in Hamilton County are much greater than from SSOs, yet regulations are more stringent for SSOs since sanitary sewers are not supposed to release untreated sewage into the environment. Our goal is to eliminate SSOs and provide affordable controls for CSOs.
What is a combined sewer?
A combined sewer is a sewer that carries both storm water and sanitary sewage (wastewater from your drains and toilets) to the treatment plant for treatment. A combined sewer overflow (CSO) is a release of untreated wastewater from a combined sewer directly into the environment. Typically, this happens after a rainstorm.
What is a sanitary sewer?
A sanitary sewer is designed to transport only sanitary sewage (wastewater from your drains and toilets) to the treatment plant for treatment. A sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) is a discharge of raw, untreated sewage in this system into local waterways. Like CSOs, this typically happens after rainstorms.
Do other cities have sewage overflows?
Yes. Most cities in the United States are in the same situation as Cincinnati when it comes to sewer overflows. Most communities with combined sewer systems, like ours, are located in the Northeast and Great Lakes regions. Ohio has about 87 such communities, ranging from small, rural villages to large metropolitan areas like Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo. Neighboring communities under Consent Decrees (see below) similar to ours include Toledo, Louisville, Columbus and Northern Kentucky.
How much will the sewer overflow program cost?
Under the Global Consent Decree, an agreement we developed with federal and state regulatory agencies, MSD is required to implement the program to address overflow problems by February 2022, unless the cost is expected to exceed $1.5 billion. If final costs are greater than that, we will have additional time to complete the necessary projects. The final cost will depend on the solutions we select and how far they go to reduce sewer overflows.
What is the Global Consent Decree?
Because resolving sewer overflows is a long-term project and can be very expensive, the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) began negotiating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice and the State of Ohio in 1997 to develop an overflow reduction plan that would be supported by the government but also affordable for local ratepayers. This process resulted in a Global Consent Decree, which is an agreement among all parties about what will be accomplished and when, and is enforced and monitored by a federal judge.
What does the Consent Decree require us to do?
The Global Consent Decree calls for the following:
  • The design and construction of 24 projects aimed at reducing and eliminating combined sewer overflows
  • An update to MSD’s combined sewer overflow Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) by June 2006
  • Enhanced operations programs to minimize overflows, respond to overflow reports and notify the public when they occur
  • $5.3 million investment in habitat improvements, stream bank stabilization, greenway development and brownfield remediation
  • Payment of $1.2 million in civil penalties to federal and state agencies
  • A comprehensive program to respond to water-in-basement complaints and prevent them from occurring
  • Development and implementation of a Capacity Assurance Program to ensure the sanitary sewer system has adequate capacity to prevent overflows
  • Construction of facilities to be complete by February 2022, unless the total program cost is expected to exceed $1.5 billion
When will you start to fix overflows?
We have already begun and are continually improving the system to keep raw sewage out of our waterways. In fact, since the mid-1990s, more than 40 overflow points in the system have been eliminated.
What is the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati?
The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati manages the collection and treatment of more than 200 million gallons of wastewater each day and actively maintains 3,000 miles of sanitary and combined sewers that run through the 49 municipalities and townships of Hamilton County. Owned by Hamilton County and operated by the City of Cincinnati, MSD is committed to continually maintaining and improving its wastewater collection and treatment systems for the betterment of both public and environmental health.
How can I help improve water quality?
We need you to join us in solving the problem of raw sewage and pollution in our waterways. Everyone has a role: individual citizens, government, non-profit organizations, businesses, industry and community groups. You can help by:
  • Cleaning up after your pets
  • Disposing of household chemicals and used oil properly, and not pouring them down the drain or down a storm sewer
  • Inviting MSD to make a presentation to your civic association or neighborhood group
  • Learning how you can reduce water use in your homes and businesses, and help keep pollution out of the storm drains