SPORTS: What would happen if Michael Phelps tried swimming in our tanks?

As swimmer Michael Phelps places more gold medals around his neck during these Olympic Games in Rio, we wondered how he'd fare in an environment more unusual than a 50-meter chlorinated pool.

Southerly first-stage aeration tanks

Could Phelps swim in one of these long bubbling channels known as an aeration tank? or perhaps the round in-ground-pool-like tanks nearby?

First, such a thing would not be a good idea, and the topic is not an invitation to try it. But second, the hypothetical does make for interesting discussion regarding the treatment process and the water's physical properties.

We asked our Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant Assistant Superintendent Dan Smith that question, turning our attention to two tanks along our common tour route: our clarifiers, and our aeration tanks.

#SB50: Stadium prep includes flushing all 1,135 toilets, urinals, sinks at once. #SewerBowl

A bowl tradition unlike any other, behold the Super Flush.

When a stadium, arena, or large-scale entertainment venue like it opens, the plumbing is tested by flushing every single toilet, urinal, and sink drain at the same time. It's been coined the Super Flush.

It happened the year Super Bowl 50 host Levi's Stadium opened in 2014, when "hundreds of workers and volunteers" super-flushed the drains not only once, but for a full 30 minutes to ensure the water-pressure system functioned properly. It looks something like this:



While the earliest reference to Super Flushing we could find was 1998 in Baltimore, we suspect the practice predates this. Plumbing functions can be particularly stressed during big events, like in Cleveland in 2007 when 50,000 gallons of water overflowed from leaky toilets during a Kenny Chesney concert. A Super Flush of more than 100 johns after repairs were made confirmed the fix was effective.

The urban legend of a city sewer explosion due to a Super Bowl halftime surge is only a myth, but it remains one of our favorites.

LIST: 5 ways the end of another Browns season is like treating wastewater

The Cleveland Browns' stadium has 85 restrooms, and we have treated their wastewater every year since their return in 1999. It gives is a unique perspective on the team's foundation, and we found five parallels between the end of another season and the work it takes to clean very dirty water.


The last thing you see is messy.
This season was the fourth straight in which the Cleveland Browns played its final game starting a third-string quarterback. And it ended messy. In water terms, once the water has been used at your homes—for washing, bathing, or flushing—it's dirty, and you want to get rid of it. Flush it, forget it, and move on. You can trust us to take it from there.

Despite the temptation, there are things you shouldn't flush.
The recurring desire to flush your tickets, quarterback jerseys, or dreams for championships may be strong, but don't do it. There are things on our "Do not flush" list for a reason. Stay strong and make the right decisions.

Improvement is a process.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was quick to say after Sunday's game that there would be change, and there is no such thing as a quick fix. Changing sewage into clean water is no quick-fix either. But one good thing about our process is it takes about 24 hours, considerably less than a search for a GM and head coach.

Is your money going down the drain?
Long-time Cleveland sports fans regularly scratch their heads in despair, asking "What are we getting for our investment?" We know customers may ask the same thing when they pay their sewer bills, which is why we offer our social media accounts, annual Open House, Infrastructure Week, and more to help answer those questions. Your sewer bill is money down the drain in a way, but it's an investment in a system that ensures a Great Lake, something you can believe in well beyond football season.

The cycle continues. 
The water cycle, much like the Cleveland coaching cycle, goes on and on and on and on and on. We have faith in a Browns turnaround. If a river can catch fire 13 times and come back from that, maybe "next year" will be here sooner than we think.

Photo by Erik Drost – Creative Commons License

LeBRON: In response to Steph Curry's toilet, our open letter to LeBron James

Dear LeBron James:

You will always be number 1 to Cleveland. Which is why your number 2 is so important to us.

Your contributions to the game of basketball, Cleveland, Ohio and the entire sports world are well documented and your acclaim is well deserved.

We are sure you are aware of Golden State Warrior Steph Curry recently acknowledged his game performance has improved since getting a new toilet, and from a sanitary and health perspective, we can understand how such a a change can affect one's performance.

But we believe true and lasting greatness goes much further than a toilet. This is not about Steph Curry's toilet. It's about Cleveland basketball's run for the throne.

You are a man who understands the value of community, of family, of pride, and we hold those same values dear as a public utility. Which is why we take any steps necessary — all. steps. necessary. — to ensure you have the best throne experience and the cleanest water any king could have. We pride ourselves on it.

We already offer award-winning and nationally renown wastewater treatment service and customer education, and we understand properly treating the flow of water coming from Cleveland only furthers your drive towards a championship. We stand (well, sitting may be more appropriate in this case) behind you.

LeBron, I assure you the service we offer Northeast Ohio meets the highest water-quality and sanitation standards in order to ensure optimum game-time performance well into June. Which is why you have no need to concern yourself with your toilet. We'll take care of that, while you keep your sights set on the real throne.

Go Cavs, and go LeBron.

Julius Ciaccia
Chief Executive Officer
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District

GRIT: The @Cavs had it, but what is it? #ALLinCLE

Photo via @ridgej

Despite The Plain Dealer's headline June 17, we believe the Cavs had grit all playoffs long. But if they're looking for more heading into next season, we have plenty.

In sports, grit is toughness, attitude and heart. In the clean-water industry, grit is different but it's a major part of the wastewater treatment process. As wastewater flows into the treatment plant, it is slowed down in large tanks that allow solid particles like sand and gravel to settle out. Those settled abrasive particles, known as grit, are removed to ensure equipment runs smoothly.

Here's a closer look.

#ALLinCLE: How an NBA Finals game and stormwater management are painfully similar

Not concerned. Have you heard about our Stormwater Management Program? @matthewdelly @kingjames #ALLinCLE @SFWater pic.twitter.com/xdkcm57dVq

— NE Oh Regional Sewer (@neorsd) June 12, 2015

What began as a tongue-in-cheek exchange between utilities in the heat of their cities' NBA Finals battle shed light on odd similarities between basketball and managing stormwater.

The Cavs' game 4 performance was painful, but it proved four important points that fans of the hardwood and sustainability can both embrace. Are there others you would add?

1. Good defense can beat good offense.

It proved itself in the Cavs' wins in games 2 and 3 as Cleveland's defense kept "Splash City's" shooters at bay. Stormwater management works the same way.

Stormwater runoff in Cleveland's heavy storms wreaks havoc on combined sewer systems for a variety of reasons. One solution is to but up a good defense on your property to slow the flow of the water much like slowing the flow of a powerful offense.

This can be done with downspout disconnects, reducing hard surfaces (known as impervious pavement), or increasing green spaces to allow water to soak into the ground rather than rushing off toward storm sewers, combined sewers, or local waterways. There are plenty of tips you can use at home.

HEALTH: 5 facts about hydration, because Dellavedova may be human after all #GetWellyDelly #ALLinCLE

Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova was hospitalized after experiencing severe cramping http://t.co/g4Y8PMy82U pic.twitter.com/d5yNVnmMyo

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 10, 2015

Following Cleveland Cavalier Matthew Dellavedova's 20-point lay-it-all-on-the-line performance in NBA Finals game 3, reports surfaced that he was hospitalized with severe cramping. It was the first indication that he may indeed be human.

Cramps are commonly caused by some combination of dehydration, muscle fatigue, and inadequate salt intake, reports cleveland.com's Andrew Tobias. As we wish Delly a quick recovery, here are 5 fast facts about keeping your body hydrated.

1. Start with water. Amidst NBA Finals advertising, sports drinks fill much of the air time, but old-fashioned H2O is a good way to start. When working out, it is recommended that you drink 7-10 ounces of water every 20 minutes.

CAVS: Cuyahoga River fire? Top 3 #BlameDelly Cleveland environmental disasters

Even before game three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Cleveland Cavalier Matthew Dellavedova had earned a reputation as a "dirty player." Cavs fans in disagreement have spawned #BlameDelly memes and social-media commentary in recent days.

We suspect the cold-hearted Delly can also be implicated a number of Cleveland's environmental challenges.

1969 Cuyahoga River fire

• True cause: Pollution on the surface of the river was set ablaze by a spark from a passing train.
• #BlameDelly version: Matthew Dellavedova dove for a loose ball and caused the igniting spark when his stone heart scraped a rock on the bank.

Lake Erie toxic algae bloom

• True cause: Higher levels of phosphorus washing into the lake from surface runoff.
• #BlameDelly version: Matthew Dellavedova has polluted Lake Erie intentionally because his thirst can only be quenched by water as dark as his soul.

Combined sewer overflow pollution

• True cause: Century-old combined sewers under Cleveland were not designed to handle the increasing volume of surface runoff, leading to pollution overflowing into Lake Erie following heavy storms. Improvements have been made and more are underway.
• #BlameDelly version: Matthew Dellavedova is a dirty player and his filth seeps into the earth of every surface he touches.

As the Cavs continue their run towards a ring, we'll continue our run towards a greater Lake Erie. Go Cavs.

NEWS: Banner and Lombardi out, ...wait, what's that gotta do with clean water?

Cleveland is a football town. So when shake-ups like today's make things look messy, fans keep hope in a better future, right?

We guess something similar could be said for our work: The efforts to clean wastewater and release it safely to the environment can be messy, misunderstood, or simply overlooked, but we know the results are worth it—a great Great Lake, and a better future for our water resources.

Many of us are Cleveland fans, and we serve teams' stadium, ballpark, and arena guests by treating the thousands of gallons of wastewater that flow during every game. But whatever team you root for, whatever game you play, clean water is a victory we can all celebrate.

Go. Fight. Win.