EVENT: You really gotta go. To our Open House and #neorsdTOUR this Saturday.

Wally Waterdrop and friends are ready to show what it takes to keep our Great Lake great.

It’s the question that has confounded children for generations: “Where does it go when I flush the potty?”

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District proudly answers one of life’s most important questions this Saturday, September 17, at the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant in Cuyahoga Heights.

This annual event offers opportunities for guests of all ages to tour the largest wastewater treatment in the State of Ohio, visit an award-winning laboratory, walk through a virtual sewer, learn about stormwater management, conduct experiments with “Zach the Mad Scientist” and experience first-hand the heavy machinery and vehicles required to maintain 350 miles of interceptor sewers.

NEWS: Trustees set rates for 2017-2021, move to monthly billing also new January 1

Construction underway at the Easterly Treatment Plant.

Annual increase of 8.3%, average bill increases by about $4 per month beginning in 2017

Today, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Board of Trustees unanimously adopted the 2017 through 2021 rate schedule effective January 1, 2017.

Beginning January 1, the Sewer District also moves to monthly billing for sewer rates for Cleveland Water customers. The move is based on its billing agent Cleveland Water making its transition away from quarterly billing. All non-Cleveland Water customers will continue to be billed quarterly.

Projected monthly average residential bills from 2017 through 2021—based on our customers' average water consumption of 4,675 gallons per month—for Subdistrict 1 (Cleveland) and Subdistrict 2 (suburbs) can be found online.

Sewer District rates are set every five years following a comprehensive study of anticipated expenditures. Officials thoroughly analyze a variety of factors, including:

• Planned infrastructure investment projects
• Maintenance and repair of existing sewers
• Increased capacity at wastewater treatment facilities
• Other construction projects including Project Clean Lake’s federally mandated construction
• Anticipated increases in chemical and energy costs
• Existing and future debt service requirements

Two other components of the rate increase include the creation of a Member Community Infrastructure Program which would assist the Sewer District’s 62 member communities with local sewer infrastructure issues; and an increase in eligible customers' participation in the Sewer District’s affordability programs from 50% to 80% over the rate schedule period.

The fees for the Regional Stormwater Management Program per ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) will not change during this rate cycle.

EVENT: 5 ways our Roadshows are not your typical public meeting

Every year we study rates and make projections for our financial future, we host public meetings to offer customers more information about their fees. This year is no different. But it will be different.

While that information is always critical, the standard introduction/PowerPoint/Q&A/thank-you-and-goodnight public-meeting structure does not always benefit those who take time to join us, and it's hard to cover the extent of how we use your sewer fees to protect our environment and your health.

For the first time ever, our series of what we're calling Roadshows—Your Sewer District, the next 5 years—brings an open-house style event across our service area to help you get the most out of the experience. Here's how:

Come when you want
Our evening meetings are open from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and our Saturday event is from 9:00 a.m. until noon. You can join us at any time during those hours to get questions answered, hear a presentation, or speak to our Customer Service reps. All the dates and locations are posted to find the one nearest you.

See what you like
The driving force behind these meetings are the proposed rates for the years 2017-2021. We know there are questions and concerns, and we'll have presentations scheduled every half-hour during the events. But we'll also have information booths about previous, current, and future construction projects, our lab work, our maintenance responsibilities, and more. Stop and visit any or all of the areas of most interest to you. It's where your sewer bill goes every quarter.

Talk to and hear from the experts
Our financial folks know finances. But they may not be experts in permit limits, traffic woes due to construction, or how to sign up for a cost-saving program. We'll have plenty of the right people there to help you.

Get questions answered
Do you want to know about stormwater fee credits? Or how your business can get registered as a vendor with us for work opportunities? The experts will know what you need and you'll find help at these events.

Take advantage of opportunities
Cost-savings, vendor registration, career opportunities, tour and presentation requests, all of these are opportunities to benefit you. Stop by and take action with a member of our team.

NEWS: Special Sewer District Board of Trustees Meeting tomorrow April 25

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 11 a.m. to review the Sewer District’s preliminary rate study analysis and possible rate schedule for 2017-2021.

The Board will not vote on rate changes at this time.

Rates are determined based on a number of factors, including capital infrastructure investment, debt service, projected consumption and cost-saving program participation, as well as predictive costs for overhead expenses including utility rates and chemical costs.

To help customers understand the Sewer District’s comprehensive plans for the next five years, the organization will conduct a series of informational programs.  These meetings—“Your Sewer District… the next five years”—will be held at the following locations:

Thursday, May 19, 5 – 7 p.m.
Nordonia High School, Auditorium
8006 South Bedford Road, Macedonia, Ohio 44056

Wednesday, May 25, 5 – 7 p.m.
Cuyahoga Community College, Western Campus, B Atrium in B Building
11000 Pleasant Valley Road, Parma, Ohio 44130

Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cuyahoga Community College, Eastern Campus, Student Services Building (President’s Plaza)
4250 Richmond Road, Highland Hills, Ohio 44122

Wednesday, June 8, 5 – 7 p.m.
Cuyahoga Community College, Jerry Sue Thornton Center, Ford Room
2500 East 22nd Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44115

At these events, customers will be able to learn more about the Sewer District’s responsibilities and plans for the next five years.

The events will have an open format and representatives from many Sewer District departments—customer service, operations and maintenance, watershed programs, water quality & industrial surveillance, engineering and construction, and analytical services—will be there to share their department’s responsibilities. There will be several brief presentations throughout the event.

Additional information about “Your Sewer District… the next five years” is available online at neorsd.org/next5 or by contacting Customer Service at 216.881.8247 or askus@neorsd.org.

SOCIAL: What's not to Like? Why Facebook's new reactions are fitting for utilities like ours in social media.

As a public utility on social media, we welcome the new reaction options Facebook offers. 

Could we see a lot more Angry reactions to rate stories? or Sad reactions to construction impacts in your community? Perhaps, but if those are honest reactions, then we want our social dialogues to be both honest and constructive.

We offer the following perspective on each of the new FB reactions and what they could mean for us and you who engage with us here.

OUTREACH: Educational roadshows coming to a community near you this spring

Over the next five years, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is making a huge investment in Greater Cleveland.

Whether it’s tunnels, sewers, pump stations, stormwater solutions or green infrastructure, we are making improvements to keep our Great Lake great.

To help our ratepayers understand what this investment means to them, we will host meetings throughout our 62-community Service Area. Representatives will be available to discuss a variety of topics, including:

• Construction plans
• Stormwater management
• Business and career opportunities
• Rates, how rates are determined, and cost-saving programs
• Water quality issues and challenges
• How we treat and monitor water quality to manage more than 90 billion gallons of sanitary sewage each year

All are welcome. UPDATE April 5, 2016: Communication prior today may have included different dates. The information below is the latest.

Thursday, May 19
Nordonia High School
5:00-7:00 p.m.
8006 South Bedford Road
Macedonia

Wednesday, May 25
Tri-C West Campus
5:00-7:00 p.m.
11000 Pleasant Valley Road
Parma, Ohio 44130
B Atrium in Building B

Saturday, June 4
Tri-C East Campus
9:00 a.m.-Noon
4250 Richmond Road
Highland Hills, Ohio 44122
Student Services Building / Presidents Plaza

Wednesday, June 8
Tri-C Metro Campus
5:00-7:00 p.m.
Jerry Sue Thornton Center
2500 East 22nd Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44115
Ford Room

VIDEO: How are rates determined? / Download a PDF

FLINT: Health, trust, and funding in the wake of Flint's water crisis

Three issues are critical to the future of clean water systems, Sewer District fully supports Value of Water Coalition guidelines for sustainable future 

If Charleston and Toledo were water-quality wake-up calls, Flint is the living nightmare for residents, officials, and the entire country.

The 2014 Elk River chemical spill in Charleston, West Virginia and the 2014 toxic algae outbreak near Toledo, Ohio represented the dangers of taking water-resource protection for granted. As Flint, Michigan residents now rely on bottled water while the safety of and trust in the city’s infrastructure must be restored, the painful reality is one that is decades in the making.

"Drinking water and wastewater utilities systems do and must protect not only the water resources, but the people that rely upon them," said Julius Ciaccia, Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.

"We must work together to ensure infrastructure can be safe, trusted, and affordable for future generations."

In response to the Flint, Michigan water crisis, the Value of Water Coalition, a collaboration consisting of private and public water agencies—including the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District—as well as several other stakeholders, recently released a set of guidelines to ensure a sustainable water future for all. Those guidelines, fully supported by the Sewer District, include:

NEWS: Could @POTUS' final State of the Union bring infrastructure into the spotlight?

President Obama greets guests at The City Club Of Cleveland in March 2015. J. Ciaccia

President Obama will present his final State of the Union address Tuesday night. In addition to big-picture "reaching for the stars" commentary, could he also note the importance of reaching underground?

Infrastructure was a surprise stand-out issue in Obama's SOTU at this time last year, so what are the odds he tees it up again? From funding and public-private partnerships to signing a microbeads ban just last month, water and infrastructure have made news in Obama's second term, and some think another infrastructure push could make sense on this stage.

When President Obama visited The City Club of Cleveland in March, the topic of infrastructure was raised by an audience member, prompting a response from the President, "Infrastructure shouldn't be controversial."

"I have been pushing for us to fund infrastructure since I came into office because we've got $2 trillion worth of dilapidated roads, bridges, sewer lines, and then there's a whole new infrastructure that we have to build in terms of a smart grid that's more secure and reliable in terms of how we use energy and making it more efficient."

Cleveland residents currently have infrastructure matters on their minds as roads are orange-barrelled and Public Square renovation presses on in advance of the July 2016 Republican National Convention. At the same time, freezing temps have led to broken water mains and rerouted traffic to start the new year.

Euclid Creek Tunnel, completed in 2015

The American Society of Civil Engineers' 2013 Infrastructure Report Card put the condition of our country's roads, bridges, water and sewer systems, and more at an underwhelming and disconcerting D+ average.

"To prioritize improvements in infrastructure, there needs to be bipartisan acknowledgement that some solutions can't be put off forever," said Chief Executive Officer Julius Ciaccia following President Obama's visit.

We have huge plans over the next 20 years to reduce Lake Erie pollution by 4 billion gallons annually. Currently, our plans to not anticipate significant Federal funding since the grants program ended back in 1990, but significant construction of gray and green infrastructure will be critical to the program's success.

We'll see if this final Obama SOTU references the infrastructure challenges—and opportunities—facing the nation today.

#SewerU: Think you know sewers? Get schooled on January 26 at Sewer University

If you are making education part of your 2016 resolutions, this is one event you won't want to miss.

Sewer University presents you with a simple history and future of clean water in the Cleveland area, and the next session is scheduled for January 26 in Cuyahoga Heights. You can register to attend.

Nearly 100 guests joined us in November for our first ever SewerU, and you can watch the full video online. On January 26, Director of Watershed Programs Frank Greenland will cover topics like regional history, sewer types and functions, stormwater problems, green infrastructure and more. Guests will also have an opportunity to tour our award-winning and certified laboratory after the presentation.

Space is limited. Register today.

RATES: 2016 rates take effect January 1, cost-saving programs available to eligible customers

The 2016 rates in blue take effect January 1, 2016.

On January 1, 2016, our Cleveland sewer rate increases to $78.05 per MCF (1,000 cubic feet of water or 7,480 gallons) and suburban rates increase to $79.85 per MCF. See the full rate schedule.

Reduced rates are available to customers who meet Homestead or Affordability Program criteria. We also have other cost-saving programs available.

The increases seen in the 2012-2016 rate schedule are due to major construction projects and a 25-year program to reduce combined sewer overflows known as Project Clean Lake. We are currently finishing a rate study to determine the next rate schedule slated to begin in 2017.

RELATED NEWS:

• SAVE: Four cost-saving programs may help you reduce your sewer bill 
• NEWS: Euclid Creek Tunnel completed $3.6 million under budget
• VIDEO: Take Christen and Ryan's 2-minute treatment plant tour

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

NEWS: CLEvsPIT rivalry, @neorsd faced @alcosanWWTP and clean water was the winner

Open House attendance increase tops 228% over last year as two sewer districts compete in Open House visitors, social media

Mark the Mad Scientist amazed guests at Saturday's record-setting Open House.

With the help of our 1,725 guests last Saturday, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District flushed Pittsburgh! Attendance at the 8th Annual Open House was 228 percent higher than last year's, sweeping the 5.12 percent attendance boost by Alcosan (the regional sewer district in Pittsburgh).

A friendly contest was held between the two agencies to determine which event, both held on the same day, would draw higher attendance numbers. The results came in Tuesday, and both utilities had numbers to be proud of.

• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
• 2014: 525 attendees
• 2015: 1,725 attendees
• Percentage increase: 228% (Greatest increase)
• Alcosan
• 2014: 1,915 attendees
• 2015: 2,013 attendees (Highest attendance)
• Percentage increase: 5.12%

RIVALRY: Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland? Clean water is the business, but this could get dirty 9/19. #neorsdTOUR

We're taking the Cleveland/Pittsburgh rivalry off the field and into the water.

The Sewer District's Open House is Saturday, September 19, the same day Pittsburgh's Allegheny County Sanitary Authority ALCOSAN hosts their annual event. The two agencies will go head-to-head in a battle of attendance and social media.

RSVP: Join us at our September 19 Open House, and register early for a chance to win a prize pack!

Both @neorsd and @alcosanWWTP hope to draw well over a thousand guests each, but bragging rights will go to the winner with

• Highest overall attendance
• Greatest increase over 2014's event attendance
• Most event mentions on social media September 19

"Treating wastewater is our business," said Jeannie Chapman, @neorsd Manager of Community & Media Relations, "but there's sure to be a little trash talking come Saturday."

We encourage our social media followers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to mention our accounts or #neorsdTOUR to support your Cleveland wastewater treatment authority. And if you throw in any Pittsburgh jokes, be creative, at least try to keep them like our treated water: Clean.

EVENT: You really gotta go. To the #neorsdTOUR Open House September 19

If urine need of a fun, free, family-friendly event, then you’ve really gotta go. To the Sewer District’s annual Open House.

On September 19, the Sewer District will open its doors to the public to answer the question, "Where Does It Go?" Be there.

At the Open House, guests will have opportunities to tour the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Center—the largest treatment plant of its kind in the State of Ohio—and conduct experiments with Mark the Mad Scientist in the laboratory. Explore the soon-to-debut Sewer Simulator, and sit behind the wheels of our work trucks.

NOTICE: Water quality advisory posted at Edgewater as a result of early morning storm, overflow

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

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

“Edgewater is yet another example of why we need to continue to be aggressive in investing in our sewer infrastructure, particularly if want to continue to capitalize on the good work of the Cleveland Metroparks and those who are developing along the lakefront,” said Sewer District Chief Executive Officer Julius Ciaccia recently.

“Otherwise, to ignore the problems, like combined sewer overflows, stormwater run-off, failing septic systems, and illicit connections of sanitary sewage to storm sewers, that plague our local waterways would be irresponsible, and would squander the past investments made to keep our Great Lake great.”

Since 1972, the Sewer District has reduced the volume of CSO by half—from 9 billion gallons to 4.5 billion gallons—and continues efforts to reduce CSO from entering local waterways. The Sewer District has $3 billion plan—Project Clean Lake—which will further reduce overflows from 4.5 billion gallons to 500 million gallons by 2036 through the construction of large-scale storage tunnels, green infrastructure, and wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

NEWS: Summer sun, sandy beaches, and swimming advisories? What you need to know

You hit the beach with family or friends and pass a red-and-white Advisory sign as you roll out your towel. Should you be concerned? And what affects bacteria levels at local beaches?

One of our jobs is to monitor water quality at three local beaches, including Edgewater, Villa Angela and Euclid beaches. And in that work, we have a role sharing information and researching the bacteria and their sources.

So rather than be concerned, be informed. Here's what you need to know.

What an advisory means

An advisory means bacteria levels in the swimming areas along the beach may be elevated. The advisory may be posted near main beach entrances.

What causes bacteria levels to rise

Many variables can impact the water quality of the beaches, some of which you might not expect.

The list includes the presence of waterfowl at the beach, the influence of Lake Erie currents, the fate of pollutants—like raw sewage—discharged into local water bodies, and stormwater runoff, which can carry motor oil, garbage and other pollutants into local water bodies, too.

All of these factors affect bacteria levels in the water at the beach, and daily testing helps keep visitors informed, especially if conditions for higher bacteria levels are present.

RECAP: "It's kind of amazing what exists under a manhole cover." #FollowTheFlow

In a whirlwind of scents, sludge, and sights seen by few other eyes, Infrastructure Week last week allowed visitors and followers an underground behind-the-scenes look at the sewers that help make clean water possible.

"It's kind of amazing what exists under a manhole cover," as WCPN's Anne Glausser put it as she peered down the century-old depths of a brick-and-mortar sewer line. And those are the reactions our #FollowTheFlow events were designed to inspire.

NOTICE: Our administrative offices are closed today

Due to localized fire damage on the 4th floor of the George J. McMonagle Administration Building around 1:00 last night, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District's administration building will be closed today, May 18, 2015.

No injuries were sustained. We are in the process of assessing damage and are ventilating the building throughout the day.

All other facilities will remain open and essential staff are required to report to work. Please contact your supervisor if you have any questions regarding your requirements.

If you have functions or meetings scheduled for the GJM Building Monday, May 18, please check with your meeting coordinator to reschedule or confirm other arrangements.

We are expected to be open as usual tomorrow, May 19, 2015. We will keep you posted as new information becomes available.

SUMMER: Ready for beach season? So are we, Mass Spectrometer and all.

How new technology and capabilities will help us identify toxic algae in Lake Erie using a recently approved EPA method; Sewer District is the first agency to offer these capabilities in Ohio

Consider this the summer of science.

As our daily beach water-quality testing and notification is set to resume in the coming days, we've added a bit of tech to our monitoring capabilities to better evaluate toxic algae threats with warmer months ahead of us. And that's big news for the entire state of Ohio.

Something old, something new

This week, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District resumes daily beach testing at Edgewater, Villa Angela and Euclid Beaches to predict and determine water quality for public notification. Daily testing will continue through September 10.

NEWS: What is water worth? "Business case" goes well beyond dollar signs / #CleanWater2015

One can not solve the world's water problems in an hour. But Edwin Pinero used his hour to highlight five components of real solutions to the world's biggest water challenges.

Pinero kicked off The City Club of Cleveland's 2015 Year of Clean Water speaker series, and he was a fine voice to do so. He's the Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Public Affairs of Veolia Water North America, a firm focused on water, wastewater, and energy resources and resource recovery.

The biggest issue we face, in his words: "We understand water is important," he said, "but we lack understanding of the connection between water and every other aspect of our lives."