Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the Clean Water Act?
What is the Consent Decree?
What are (SSOs) sanitary sewer overflows and
(CSOs) combined sewer overflows?
How big is the sewage overflow problem in our
community?
Will sewage rates go up? I thought MSD was working
on this sewage overflow problem already.
Is Louisville's problem unique, or are other
communities facing similar problems?
What should I do in the event of a sewer overflow?
Are there health risks if contact is made with
this contaminated water?
Aren’t the pipes that serve my house large enough
to prevent flooding?
What is the Clean Water Act? (back
to top)
The Clean Water Act is the federal legislation that governs the
introduction of contaminants and pollutants into waters of the United
States. This Act has as its goals that all streams should be fishable
and swimmable.
What is the Consent Decree? (back
to top)
The Consent Decree is a legal document that is signed by both the
community and an enforcement agency that binds the community to complete
specific activities that will lead to the elimination or reduction of
sewer overflows in their municipal sewer system.
What are (SSOs) sanitary sewer overflows and
(CSOs) combined sewer overflows? (back
to top)
A separate sanitary sewer system is designed to carry only
wastewater to a wastewater treatment plant; a separate stormwater system
is designed to carry only stormwater that is transported to ditches and
streams. In a combined sewer system, both wastewater and stormwater are
carried in the same set of pipes to the treatment plant. During nearly
every rain, stormwater gets into these sewer systems, which results in
untreated sewage overflowing into area streams and the Ohio River. When
these overflows occur in the combined sewer system, they are known as
CSOs. Likewise, when such overflows occur in the separate sanitary sewer
system, they are known as SSOs. These overflows are generally caused by
aging sewers or illegal stormwater and groundwater connections to the
sanitary sewers and can contribute to water quality problems in our
streams.
How big is the sewage overflow problem in our
community? (back to top)
Louisville has over 3,200 miles of sewer, approximately 500
miles being over 100 years old. Much of the system is in need of
rehabilitation or repair. Currently, there are 111 active CSO locations
and on average will overflow 30 times per year. Additionally, during a
year with above-average rainfall, over 100 locations in the separate
sanitary sewer system could overflow.
Will sewage rates go up? I thought MSD was working
on this sewage overflow problem already. (back
to top)
Yes, sewer rates will go up to pay for the costs of rehabilitating
our sewer system. However, it is MSD's goal to keep our sewer rates well
below the national average as we have in years past. MSD has already
spent more than $150 million over the past 5 years to reduce the impacts
of CSOs and SSOs. Much improvement has been accomplished, but there is
still much more to be done.
Is Louisville's problem unique, or are other
communities facing similar problems? (back
to top)
No, Louisville's problem is not unique. Wastewater systems across
the nation, including many in our state, are facing the same problems of
aging infrastructure and increasingly strict regulations. Many cities
have already entered into similar enforcement actions, such as
Louisville's Consent Decree. EPA has made it a priority to bring all
cities with similar problems into compliance.
What should I do in the event of a sewer overflow?
(back to top)
The most important thing to do is to stay away from water in
ditches, streams and the river during and for 48 hours after rainfall.
This is when overflows are most likely to occur. In the event of a sewer
system failure, overflows may occur during dry weather. If you do come
into contact with water that has been contaminated by a sewer overflow,
you should wash with soap and warm water before touching any surfaces,
persons or food.
Are there health risks if contact is made with
this contaminated water? (back to top)
The health risks depends on how long and how much contact one
has. For example, if contaminated water is swallowed while swimming, one
might become ill and need to seek medical attention. If the contact is
external - skin only - then a thorough washing with soap and warm water
will be sufficient to kill any bacteria one has encountered. The best
thing to do is avoid the contaminated water altogether.
Aren’t the pipes that serve my house large enough
to prevent flooding? (back to top)
Most homes and subdivision are served by an 8-inch sewer pipe
which is designed to carry sewage from 200 homes. Many homes have sump
pumps to keep dry and are supposed to be piped to discharge on the
ground. However, if four basement sump pumps are connected
illegally to a sanitary sewer they can cause a sewer overflow to occur.