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What is the Problem?
Billions of gallons of untreated sewage mixed with storm water overflow from our sewers into local neighborhood streams and the Ohio River each year.
Overflows happen when storm water overloads our antiquated and aging sewer system, typically after rainstorms. To relieve pressure in the system and minimize backups into homes and businesses, excess sewage is released into local waterways.
Approximately 14.4 billion gallons of untreated sewage and storm water enter our waterways in a typical year. Overflows occur as many as 105 times per year, with fewer overflows occurring in dry years and more in wet years.
Studies have shown that:
Sewers overflow near community parks and affect sensitive waterways used for recreation- Overflows cause offensive odors and leave toilet paper and other unsanitary debris along the banks of some streams
- Many area streams do not meet the state’s standards for recreational activities, such as wading or swimming, after it rains
- Although the waters may not be safe in wet weather, people can access many of the streams near where sewers overflow
- Habitat for fish and other aquatic life is degraded in many waterways
- Overflows from combined sewers are the primary source of E. coli bacteria in affected waterways, although urban storm water runoff also contributes to the problem
- You can get sick if you swallow water that has high levels of E. coli bacteria in it
State and federal regulations require MSD and other sewer agencies to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows and develop long-term plans to reduce overflows from combined sewers. MSD’s Wet Weather Program addresses these issues. Its goals are to:
- Eliminate water-in-basement occurrences caused by the public sewer system
- Eliminate all sanitary sewer system overflows in a typical year
- Reduce and control combined sewer overflows in an affordable and cost-effective manner
