A Message from H. J. Schardein, Jr., MSD Executive Director
Clean water is essential for our well-being and continued growth. Over the past eighteen months, I have spoken to almost 150 community and civic groups about the challenges of protecting our streams and the Ohio River. There is a direct link between clean water and healthy communities.
To address the challenges of improving our water quality, MSD is about to embark on a comprehensive sewer improvement program that will eliminate major sources of water pollution throughout Louisville Metro. The new initiative is called “Project WIN” (Waterway Improvements Now). Planned upgrades under Project WIN will allow us to comply with Clean Water Act regulations.
Project WIN will address problems with combined and sanitary sewer overflows. During rain storms, the sewers become overloaded with rainwater and discharge the combined water and sewage into local streams and the Ohio River. MSD has committed to take necessary measures to control sewer overflows under a federal Consent Decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the Kentucky Division of Water (DOW).
Project WIN will involve a substantial investment from our customers over the next 19 years. In the months to come, you will see increased communications about the potential risks of wet weather overflows and our efforts to reduce them to safe levels. We will be installing signs near affected waterways, presenting at public meetings, placing brochures and other information in public places and updating our web site. This information is not meant to alarm or frighten you in any way; it is meant to keep you safe and informed. Over the past five years, MSD has invested over $150 million in reducing occurrences of combined and sanitary sewer overflows. We will continue to develop projects to help us achieve the goals of Project WIN.
Project WIN will ensure that Louisville Metro residents and future generations will enjoy all the benefits of clean streams for many years to come. Please let us know if you have questions. MSD customer relations agents are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (502) 587-0603.