NOTICE: Heavy storms trigger swimming advisory at Edgewater Beach

Water quality sampling at three local beaches.

June 24 storms cause Edgewater combined sewer outfall to discharge raw sewage into Lake Erie

Today, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District posted a public advisory at Edgewater Beach as a result of a combined sewer overflow (CSO) event at Edgewater, which discharged raw sewage into Lake Erie during last night’s heavy storm.

Visitors—particularly children, the elderly and those in ill health—are advised to avoid contact with the water and debris for the next 48 hours.

"Last night’s overflow at Edgewater is yet another example of why we need to continue to be aggressive in investing in our sewer infrastructure," said Julius Ciaccia, Sewer District Executive Director, "particularly if want to continue to capitalize on the good work of the Cleveland Metroparks and those who are developing along the lakefront."

NEWS: Cleveland Heights and Berea customers, your stormwater bill and sewer/water bills are separate

If you are a customer living in Cleveland Heights or Berea, you will need to pay your 2013 stormwater bill separate from your cities' water and sewer bills. Here's why.

As Sewer District customers in our stormwater service area, you will receive a bill for the new stormwater fee starting in 2013. This new fee supports our Regional Stormwater Management Program, which will reduce flooding, decrease erosion, and improve water quality.

The stormwater fee will appear on a new stormwater bill directly from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District; it will not be included with any other water or sewer bills you may receive from your city. Be advised that when you receive your stormwater bill from the Sewer District, please pay it separately from your current water and sewer bill from your city.

At this point, the Sewer District only accepts checks and money orders, payable to the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (or NEORSD).

NEORSD
P.O. Box 94550
Cleveland, Ohio 44101

If you have questions or concerns, email us at stormwater@neorsd.org, call Customer Service at (216) 881-8247, or tweet us @neorsd.

Photo: morguefile/xandert

NEWS: Wastewater treatment plants operating at capacity, fully treating flows triple the average

SUMMARY: Nearly 1.5 billion gallons of sewage receiving full or partial treatment in last 24 hours; 75-million gallon Mill Creek Tunnel filled; CSOs discharging into environment; plants partially treating bypassing flow.

UPDATE 2012 11/01: WKYC visited our Southerly plant yesterday afternoon to feature the plant staff's efforts to manage the enormous volume of flow. Here's the story.

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s three wastewater treatment plants (“Easterly” and “Westerly” in Cleveland, “Southerly” in Cuyahoga Heights) are fully treating flows more than triple the average daily flow. In the last 24 hours, the three wastewater treatment plants fully treated 800 million gallons of wastewater. In addition, another 660 million gallons received primary treatment (solids removal) before being discharged into the environment.

The Sewer District’s 230 miles of interceptor sewers—large sewers that transport sewage to the plants—are transporting additional sewage for treatment. In addition, the Mill Creek Tunnel, capable of holding 75 million gallons of combined sewage, is filled to capacity. Lastly, locally-owned sanitary sewers contain flow as well. There is a tremendous amount of wastewater awaiting treatment.

Although a great deal of sewage is being treated or stored for future treatment, some flow is being discharged into the environment. Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharge a mixture of sanitary sewage and stormwater at 126 points throughout the Sewer District’s service area; many of these points have overflowed due to Hurricane Sandy (see photo and video below of CSO along Mill Creek).

ALERT: Broken sewer pipe reduces traffic to one lane on Warner Road

 
A portion of a sewer pipe owned by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District has broken and caused a sinkhole on Warner Road just north of Turney Road (near Mill Creek Falls area). Therefore, Warner Road has been restricted to one lane, southbound only, but there have been no environmental impacts.

The Sewer District recommends that motorists avoid the area if possible. The City of Cleveland will monitor Warner Road for further deterioration and determine whether complete road closure is required.

There is no sewage leak occurring and the environment has not been adversely impacted.