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The Plan
MSD’s Wet Weather Program is made up of approximately 380 individual projects. Together, these projects will:
- Eliminate water-in-basement occurrences caused by the sewer system
- Eliminate all sanitary sewer overflows in a typical year
- Reduce and control combined sewer overflows
- Reduce sewage odors in rivers and streams
- Reduce sewer debris in streams
- Help make streams safer and more pleasant after heavy rains
Projects will be completed in 34 townships and municipalities across Hamilton County, and in 30 neighborhoods within the City of Cincinnati. Many projects will cross community boundaries, providing benefits for multiple regions. A significant amount of the work will be completed over the first 15 years, beginning in 2007. The total program cost is currently estimated at approximately $1.99 billion, measured in 2006 dollars (see The Value of Your Investment for more information).
Project Selection Process
MSD partnered with a team of the nation’s leading wastewater management consultants for more than three years to select the best solutions to be included in the Wet Weather Program.
Together, we conducted comprehensive water quality studies, researched pollution levels and their impacts in local waterways, developed and analyzed sophisticated computer models of the sewer system and local streams and rivers, and performed comprehensive cost-benefit analyses of possible alternatives. We studied a broad range of alternatives and assessed each based on a number of criteria:
- Impact on existing conditions
- Effect on general public health and water quality
- Expected future needs
- Community values
- Cost/benefit analyses
- Affordability
Projects that offered the best value for the investments were selected for the program.
Public Involvement
In addition to evaluating projects based on the above criteria, we also met with the Greater Cincinnati community to ensure that what we were doing was in line with community wants and needs.
We enlisted a core group of 35 community advisors to serve on a Steering Committee to guide our efforts and bring key issues, priorities and concerns from the community’s perspective to the table for consideration. The Steering Committee met with us and our consultants regularly for nearly two years. Committee members represented the City and County, local townships and municipalities, local universities, environmental groups and many other local organizations.
Last fall, we worked to educate the people in our community about sewer overflow issues and obtain your thoughts on our proposed solutions. Community members had the opportunity to meet with our project team at four public meetings, ask questions, and share their comments, suggestions and project priorities. Through surveys, the community told us:
- Protecting public health is the most important goal in reducing sewer overflows (as reported by 80% of respondents)
- The places with the worst pollution problems should be given first priority (67%)
- The most important benefit of the proposed program is reducing public health risks linked to sewer overflows (75%)
- The public also shared with us its thoughts on which locations should receive priority attention.
MSD used the input received from the public and the Steering Committee to assess and prioritize proposed projects, and refine the overall Wet Weather Program.
Program Implementation
Of the approximately 380 projects included in the Wet Weather Program, more than 100 have already been completed or are currently under construction. The remaining projects will be completed over a period of 23 years, beginning in 2007; however, a significant amount of work will take place between 2007 and 2022.
It is physically and financially impossible to complete all the projects at once. Instead, each project will be completed in order of priority. Projects were prioritized based on:
- Impact on public health
- Community priorities
- Impact on neighborhoods
- Sensitivity of receiving streams
- Current MSD programs that will affect project needs/benefits
Next Steps
Following a comprehensive review of the Wet Weather Program by the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and the general public, we will make any necessary modifications to the plan and submit a final version to the federal, state and regional governments for review by the end of June. We expect to begin construction once officials from these federal and state agencies have approved the plan – likely in 2007.
