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As part of its evolving public notification program, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District now devotes a special section of its website to inform the public about Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs).

In addition, the District also posts CAUTION signs at critical CSO sites to alert the public that during a large rainstorm, sewer overflows may occur.

Available on the District's CSO website is a wealth of information including:

·An overview of CSOs in the Greater Cleveland area
·Educational information about CSOs
·Illustrations and photos of CSOs
·Information explaining CAUTION signs
·Several maps showing all CSO locations in the District's service area, as well as two additional maps indicating District construction projects designed to reduce CSOs.


"In addition to our ultimate goal of eliminating them, we are working hard to inform and educate the public about the combined sewer overflows and their impact on public health and the environment," said Executive Director Erwin J. Odeal.

Phase two of the CSO notification program will involve additional website enhancements including email notification and real-time CSO monitoring information.

To date, the District has invested $820 million in construction projects designed to reduce CSOs. In the last ten years, they have reduced CSO discharges by an estimated one billion gallons per year. In addition, the District has recently adopted a 30-year CSO control program that will require $1.6 billion to implement.

CSO Definition: Combined sewers carry raw sewage, industrial waste and storm water in a single pipe. In dry weather and light rain, all the water goes to one of the District's three wastewater treatment plants. During a large rainstorm, these sewers may overflow into area waterways. This event is called a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO).