The City expanded your wastewater treatment facility in 1996 to be able to handle 3 MGD (million gallons per day). Previously the treatment facilities would handle around 2.5 MGD during storm events. Total cost of these improvements was 1.4 million dollars.
The City made operational changes to the treatment facility in 2008 to increase flows up to 3.5 MGD.
The City also has done extensive smoke testing to identify problem areas in the sewer system. This was done so the City could develop a Downspout and Sump Pump Program. The purpose of this program is to eliminate clean water connections into the sewer system. These clean water connections (sump pumps and roof downspouts) put storm water into the sanitary sewer system at a rate that is much higher than sewers can handle and cause back-ups and overflows.
The City is currently developing a CSO operational plan, which will be submitted to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) for approval. The plan includes nine control strategies, which can reduce frequency of discharges and minimize capital expenditures. These nine controls are:
1) Proper operation and regular maintenance of the sewer system and CSOs.
2) Maximum use of the collection system for storage.
3) Review and modification of pretreatment requirements.
4) Maximize flow at the treatment facility.
5) Prohibition of dry weather overflows.
6) Control of solid and floatable materials in CSO discharges.
7) Require pollution prevention programs focused on reducing the level of contaminants in CSOs.
8) Required inspection, monitoring and reporting of CSOs.
9) Public notification for any areas affected by CSOs.