Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District’s proposed $3 billion modifications for ‘Project Clean Lake’ approved

Changes will improve public health and environmental safety while saving nearly $ 100 million.

CLEVELAND – Editor’s Note: The video in the player above is from a story posted on December 9, 2020.

Northeast Ohio’s Regional Sewer District Board of Trustees (NEORSD) has reached an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the state of Ohio to make $ 3 billion changes to Sewer District combined sewer -Dollars to make overflow approval ordinance.

The consent decree, also known as Project Clean Lake, includes a number of projects to reduce the combined sewage that is discharged into local waterways during heavy rainfall in the area.

RELATED: Notice following recent storms causes sewer overflow on Edgewater Beach

“In addition to protecting public health and the environment, the sewer district is focused on saving costs for its customers,” said Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, CEO of NEORSD. “When we started the change process in 2018, it was clear that we could avoid unnecessary spending while maintaining and in some cases improving the water quality benefits of Project Clean Lake.”

Changes to the Clean Lake Project are aimed at improving water quality and facility operations, protecting public health, and saving customers money. The changes include implementing better solutions during the construction planning process, eliminating unnecessary construction in the southern wastewater treatment plant, and eliminating unnecessary construction in the western wastewater treatment plant. These changes are expected to save a total of $ 91 million.

RELATED: Wastewater Tests Lead to Warning of a Possible Spike in Coronavirus in Cuyahoga County

“When the Sewer District applied for the change in 2018, it was done with the customer and the environment in mind. Without federal funding, the Sewer District is constantly looking for ways to save our customers money and money.” Do a better job for the water quality, “said Darnell Brown, president of the Trustees of the Sewage District.” This is a win for everyone, and we are grateful for the work of the US EPA, DOJ, and Ohio State to help us to reach this agreement. “

The work completed so far as part of the approval decree has resulted in around 1 billion gallons of combined wastewater being removed from the discharge into the environment, reports the sewerage district. Another 515 million gallons are to be added by 2023.

We had some pretty big news to report today and then Taylor Swift had to announce her new album.

Even so, we’re increasingly proud to negotiate three major changes to the Clean Lake Project that will improve our operations, protect water quality, and save customers money. https://t.co/LTxDduz7rn

– ☃️🚽 Let it flow (@neorsd) December 10, 2020