Green Solutions for Managing Our Rain
MSD is going green to keep rain water out of the sewer system and reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
To date, MSD is capturing about 120 million gallons of stormwater runoff annually during a typical year of rain (41 inches), based on design and watershed assumptions. By the end of 2019, we will be capturing more than 1 billion gallons of stormwater a year.
Why Capture Stormwater?
The major culprit in a CSO is stormwater, not sewage.
CSOs occur when too much stormwater fills up sewers beyond what they can hold and the mixture overflows, by design, into a local stream or river.
Green Solutions
Green solutions help keep rainwater out of combined sewers and also clean the water by filtering it through soil, rocks and plants.
Below are some examples of MSD's green solutions:
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Between 2009-2011, MSD partnered with about 20 local organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of smaller-scale stormwater controls. The project sites ranged from the Cincinnati Zoo and Cincinnati State to the Civic Garden Center and the Cincinnati Museum Center. View MSD's report.
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In 2015, MSD installed two rain gardens in North Fairmount along Denham Street. View the fact sheet.
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In 2018, MSD installed a rain garden in Northside along West Fork Road. Learn more...
- MSD is currently focusing on larger-scale
green infrastructure such as bioswales, stream restoration and stormwater detention basins.
Much of this effort is focusing on the Lower Mill Creek watershed area. The nationally recognized Lick Run Project, which is part of this solution, will remove about 500 million gallons of stormwater from the combined sewer system by the end of 2019. MSD also completed a large-scale stream restoration project in 2014 at Ault Park, which reduces CSOs into the Little Miami River.
Going Green at Home and at Work
MSD supports and encourages citizens of Hamilton County to help keep stormwater out of the combined sewer system at home and at work or school. Learn more.
