For fourth straight year, District opens doors for Open House

“Where Does It Go?” On August 13, citizens of Northeast Ohio can get the answer to this popular—yet seldom asked—question. The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is once again opening its doors to the general public at the NEORSD “Where Does It Go?” Open House on Saturday, August 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.



Guests are invited to tour NEORSD’s Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant, the largest facility of its kind in Ohio, on “Lolly the Trolly” to witness the wastewater treatment process and why this service is essential to our community. The tour—which includes the trolley ride as well as walking through the treatment plant—will show customers first-hand how the rates they pay are used to protect their health and environment.

“It’s very important that we open up our doors and show the public the extensive and complicated work we do every day,” said John Augustine, Superintendent of the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. “It’s important that the public understand the process and how their monies are used to protect public health and the environment. We want our guests to leave with a greater understanding and sense of the District’s positive impact on the community.”

The tour will include an overview of the extensive process required to clean water, how garbage and waste are managed and how public health and the environment are protected by the process. In addition, guests will also learn more about the Sewer District’s Renewable Energy Facility, a state of the art incineration process that will reduce the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant’s natural gas usage by 97 percent, and provide 25 percent of the plant’s energy needs through renewable resources.

“This event has been extremely popular the last several years, and we are typically completely booked within a matter of days,” said Community Relations Specialist Mardele Cohen.

The family-friendly event will begin at the Environmental & Maintenance Services Center (EMSC) at 4747 East 49th St. in Cuyahoga Heights; EMSC houses the District’s award-winning laboratory.  There, kids will be able to make slime, test pH levels, see the aquatic insects and fish species used to identify if water is clean, and learn more about the large trucks used to clean the sewers. In addition, Wally Waterdrop will also be on-hand to greet guests.

Attendance at the “Where Does It Go?” Open House is limited, so guests must pre-register by calling 216-432-7304 or visiting WhereDoesItGo.org/OpenHouse