Lower Mill Creek Watershed
The Lower Mill Creek watershed covers approximately 40,000 acres (62.5 square miles) in the heart of Hamilton County. (Click image for larger view.)
This watershed, which drains into the Mill Creek, contributes more than half of the billions of gallons of sewage and stormwater that overflow annually from combined sewers across Hamilton County. The Mill Creek is a tributary of the Ohio River.
Under Project Groundwork, MSD is required to eliminate 1.78 billion gallons of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) from the Mill Creek by 2018 (during Phase 1 of MSD's Project Groundwork).
Map of Lower Mill Creek Watershed
The Lower Mill Creek watershed includes numerous smaller watersheds that drain to the Mill Creek. (Click image for larger view.)
Lower Mill Creek Partial Remedy
The U.S. EPA has approved MSD's 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 December 31, 2018, during Phase 1 of Project Groundwork, MSD's Consent Decree program. The solution is detailed in the Lower Mill Creek Partial Remedy Study Report, December 2012.
This sustainable remedy will improve water quality, create new jobs and provide opportunities for neighborhood revitalization. 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 will reduce overflows into the Mill Creek by an estimated 369 million gallons annually, during a typical year of rain (41 inches). The central element is Valley Conveyance System (VCS) 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 Lick Run Project.
- The West Fork project will reduce 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, visit West Fork project.
- The Kings Run project will reduce 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 Kings Run project.
- The Bloody Run project will reduce 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 Bloody Run project
Mill Creek photo (left side of page) courtesy Bruce Koehler, OKI.