U.S. EPA Approves MSD’s Lower Mill Creek Solution

The U.S. EPA has approved the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati’s (MSD) remedy for removing 1.78 billion gallons of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) annually from the Mill Creek.

This Lower Mill Creek solution – officially approved on May 30, 2013 – will be implemented in place of a deep, underground storage tunnel.  All projects must be constructed by 2018, during Phase 1 of Project Groundwork, MSD’s Consent Decree program.

This sustainable remedy will not only improve water quality but will serve as a catalyst to improve local neighborhoods and create new jobs. It focuses on reducing the amount of stormwater in MSD’s combined sewer system through the use of stormwater detention basins, new storm sewers, and restoration or daylighting of stormwater and natural drainage flows, among other projects.

The total cost is estimated at $244 million (in 2006 dollars), which is about $200 million less expensive for ratepayers than the deep tunnel.

The remedy includes projects in the Lick Run, Kings Run, West Fork and Bloody Run watersheds.

Project highlights include:

• The Lick Run project reduces overflows into the Mill Creek by an estimated 624 million gallons annually.  The central element is an urban waterway or valley conveyance system that will convey stormwater and natural drainage through South Fairmount to the Mill Creek.  The Lick Run project will be implemented in South Fairmount and portions of East and West Price Hill and Westwood.  For more information, visit http://www.projectgroundwork.org/lickrun.
• The West Fork project reduces overflows into the West Fork Channel, a tributary of the Mill Creek, by an estimated 173 million gallons annually.  The project includes stormwater detention basins and new storm sewers.  It addresses the largest overflow in the West Fork watershed and removes a significant volume of natural drainage from Mt. Airy Forest, the largest park in the City.  The West Fork project will be implemented in Northside and Mt. Airy.  For more information, visithttp://www.projectgroundwork.org/westfork.
• The Kings Run project reduces overflows into the Mill Creek and Kings Run, a tributary of the Mill Creek, by an estimated 156 million gallons. This project includes stormwater detention basins and new storm sewers, among other projects, to reduce overflows in the Wooden Shoe neighborhood. The Kings Run project will be implemented in Spring Grove Village, College Hill and Winton Hills.  For more information, visit http://www.projectgroundwork.org/kingsrun.
• The Bloody Run project reduces overflows into the Mill Creek by an estimated 93 million gallons.  This project includes the installation of real-time controls (RTCs) near CSO 181, which discharges through a channel to the Mill Creek.  Real-time controls allow sewer lines to act as temporary storage for excess flows during heavy rains.  The Bloody Run project will be implemented in Bond Hill at CSO 181.  For more information, visit http://www.projectgroundwork.org/bloodyrun.

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If you would like to sign up to receive project status updates by email, please contact MSD Engineering Customer Service at (513) 557-3594 or MSD.Communications@cincinnati-oh.gov.  Please tell us which watershed(s) you are interested in.