Earth Gauge » Combined Sewer Overflow

Combined Sewer Overflows

espinoza — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:13:47 +0000

Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) remain a key problem across the Great Lakes region. CSOs occur when pipes carrying both sanitary sewage and rainwater overflow into streams, rivers and lakes during heavy rains. The Great Lakes account for 70 percent of CSOs in the United States, according to the International Joint Commission. Detroit is the leading source of overflows in the Great Lakes, but it’s a problem across the region during heavy rains. A nearly 7-inch rainfall over several days in 2008 resulted in the release of 11 billion gallons of combined sewer overflow into Lake Michigan.

Viewer Tip: Conserving water at home can help lower the load on our sewer systems. Consider installing low-flow toilets and other appliances to reduce sanitary sewage flows from your home. Look for appliances labeled with EPA’s Water Sense seal, which indicates water-efficient products. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense for more information.

Learn more about about CSOs at www.greatlakes.org/Page.aspx?pid=454.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

This information is provided by the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.greatlakes.org.

(Sources: International Joint Commission 14th Biennial Report
on Great Lakes Water Quality http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/pdf/ID1631.pdf
Environmental Protection Agency study on CSOs and climate change: http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/pdfs/cso-extrevdraft-mar07.pdf, Alliance for the Great Lakes)

Helping the Gulf

espinoza — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:08:23 +0000

Did you know that you can help the Gulf of Mexico without traveling beyond your driveway? Our region is part of the Mississippi River watershed, an area of land that drains rain water and river water into the Gulf of Mexico. When it storms here, rainwater carries pollutants like fertilizer from farms and lawns, motor oil from driveways and litter from streets into our local waterways, which lead to the Mississippi River. Each summer, excess nitrogen from this polluted runoff causes a low-oxygen area – also known as a ‘dead zone’ – in the Gulf of Mexico that impacts marine life.

Viewer Tip: With millions of gallons of crude oil and chemical dispersants already in Gulf waters, marine life and biodiversity are more vulnerable than ever to other pollutants. No matter where you live in the Mississippi River watershed, you can help protect water quality in the Gulf with these tips:

Participate in a wetland, river or beach cleanup in your area. Check with your local watershed group or organize your own!
Never dump oil or other household chemicals in the street or in a storm drain. If you change your own motor oil, make sure to collect it in a clean can with a lid and take it to a service station or household hazardous waste collection site for recycling.
Use as little fertilizer and pesticide as possible. Most farmers and gardeners can use less fertilizer and still obtain the same amount of crop yield.
Prevent erosion by mulching and seeding areas where bare soil can be washed away in your yard. Adding mulch or vegetation to bare areas allows water to soak slowly into the ground, rather than running off quickly.
Instead of sweeping yard waste into the street or storm drain, use it for composting or mulching in your own backyard. You’ll protect your soil, prevent erosion, control weeds…and protect water quality.

Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Mississippi River Basin map to find your location in the watershed: www.epa.gov/msbasin/marb.htm.

( Sources: GulfBase. General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php; National Park Service: A Profile of the Mississippi River. http://www.nps.gov/miss/naturescience/profmiss.htm; Frankenberger, Jane and Ron Turco. Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico: A Reason to Improve Nitrogen. Purdue Animal Issues Briefing AI-6; U.S. EPA National Estuary Program. June 2007. “National Estuary Program Coastal Condition Report.” Available from: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nepccr/index.html; Dybas, Cheryl l., Dead Zones Spreading in World Oceans, Bioscience 552-557; US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. www.epa.gov/owow;
Gulf Base: General Facts about the Gulf of Mexico. http://www.gulfbase.org/facts.php;
US EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans, and Watersheds. Www.epa.gov/owow)

Fall Storms, Falling Leaves

espinoza — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:08:35 +0000

Leaf litter and grass clippings can clog storm sewers and contribute to combined sewer overflows and runoff pollution that taints the Great Lakes. In Wisconsin, for example, runoff is a leading source of water quality problems, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The agency points to runoff as a problem degrading or threatening 40 percent of the streams and 90 percent of the state’s inland lakes. Every year, raw sewage mixed with stormwater is released into the Great Lakes from combined sewers in 20 cities, according to the Alliance for the Great Lakes “Healthy Beaches Action Guide.”

Viewer Tip: Composting leaves this fall makes nice mulch for garden beds next spring and cuts down on the volume of leaves that must be hauled away. “Leaf-cycling” puts carbon back into the soil and avoids burning leaves, which releases carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air.

Related Video: Download broadcast-quality video and a script on leaf-cycling at http://www.earthgauge.net/resources/public-video#12.

This information is provided by the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.greatlakes.org.

Season: Fall

(Sources: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/greatlakes/priorities/runoff.html; Alliance for the Great Lakes “Healthy Beaches Action Guide.”)

Forget “FOG”

espinoza — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:24:03 +0000

Fats, oil and grease – “FOG” – that go down the drain can cause major problems in our sewer systems. These substances form thick layers inside sewer lines that can clog pipes and cause blockages. FOG clogs can cause raw sewage overflows, sewer backups and other issues, especially in areas with combined sewers designed to handle both rain water and waste water.

Viewer Tip: Commercial and residential kitchens are the biggest sources of “FOG” in urban areas. You can help keep FOG out of our sewer system. Instead of pouring cooking grease, oil or fat down the sink, scrape cooled grease and food scraps into a tin can or the trash can. You may also put baskets/strainers in your sink to catch food and grease solids before they go down the drain.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: Water-Environment Federation. “Fat-Free Sewers: Prevent Fats, Oils and Greases from Damaging Your HOme and the Environment.” Brochure. Available from www.wef.org)

Slow the Flow (Chesapeake Bay)

administrator — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:41:55 +0000

During the 1990′s, although the population in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed grew by only eight percent, the percentage of the land area covered by hard, impervious surfaces like asphalt and concrete grew by a whopping 41 percent! When rainwater runs over these impervious surfaces instead of soaking into the ground, floods and sewer overflows become more likely, and more pollutants enter streams, rivers, and the Bay. During the summer months, rainwater running over hot paved surfaces can heat-up enough to kill aquatic life.
Viewer Tip: Direct the flow of water from driveways, sidewalks, and downspouts towards vegetated areas in your yard to allow rainwater to soak into the ground, instead of running off into the street or storm drain. Putting a spreader at the bottom of downspouts will direct water away from your home, avoiding any drainage or erosion problems – you can find one at your local home improvement store.

Season: Summer

(Sources: United States Geologic Survey (2008). U.S. Chesapeake Bay Activities: Causes and Consequences of Land Use Changes. Accessed Online 14 February 2008 and Maryland Department of the Environment (2005). Stormwater Conservation in Your Backyard. Accessed Online 14 February 2008 )

Beach Blues (Rhode Island)

administrator — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:01:33 +0000

Did you know that 25 percent of New England’s coastal and freshwater beaches are either closed or have posted warnings at least once per year? Over the past three years, about 100 beaches in New England have had warnings or closures for at least ten days. Many of these warnings and closures result when polluted rainwater and untreated sewage that carry viruses and bacteria make it into local water bodies. If bacteria levels exceed acceptable levels, warnings are posted or beaches are closed.

Viewer Tip: If you are headed to a local beach to enjoy nice weather, check conditions to make sure swimming and recreation are safe. This is especially important after heavy rains, which can overflow storm drains and combined sewer systems into local water bodies. You can find information about New England beaches at EPA Region One’s New England Beaches website (www.epa.gov/ne/eco/beaches), or at the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Beach Water Quality Monitoring website (www.ribeaches.org).

Season: Summer

(Sources: EPA New England Beach Initiative. “It’s a Shore Thing: Clean New England Beaches.” http://www.epa.gov/Region1/eco/beaches/assets/pdfs/shore_thing_fs_07.pdf)

Watch Those Signs

administrator — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:21:13 +0000

Combined sewer systems, which are designed to carry both sewage and storm water, can become overloaded when it rains and overflow into local waters. In the New York City area, there are over 400 overflow points. Bacteria and other pollutants in the overflow can harm filter-feeding shellfish, such as clams and mussels, and sometimes lead to beach closures.

Viewer Tip: After a storm, pay attention to signs and warnings – your local health officials will tell you if it is unsafe to fish or swim.
Seasons: Summer

(Source: New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program. “Combined Sewer Overflows in the New York/New Jersey Harbor Estuary.” http://www.harborestuary.org/pdf/hep_cso.pdf; United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 2002. “Before You Go to the Beach…” http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/30cwabeach.pdf )

Slow the Overflow

administrator — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:22:37 +0000

Over half of Portland’s residents are served by pipelines that carry both rain water runoff and sewage. During heavy rain events this system can overflow, and untreated sewage mixed with rain water is discharged into local streams and the Willamette River.

Viewer Tip: You can help prevent overflows by installing a rain barrel at your home. Rain barrels connect to downspouts, collect rain water and store it for later use. You can use captured water for outdoor watering, car washing, cleaning windows, and watering houseplants. Second, try to direct as much water as possible away from impervious surfaces such as streets and driveways, and onto surfaces like your lawn and gardens. This allows rainwater to be filtered and slowly soak into the ground, instead of running off into storm drains and local waters, untreated!
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: City of Portland: Portland Bureau of Environmental Services: http://www.portlandonline.com/bes/index.cfm?c=34598& and http://www.portlandonline.com/cso/index.cfm?c=30772&a=52150)

Overload!

administrator — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:03:07 +0000

Parts of DC have a combined sewer system, meaning that pipes are designed to carry both wastewater and rainwater. During heavy rains, this system can become overloaded, and both wastewater and rainwater overflow into the nearest stream or river. In an average year, more than 1.4 billion gallons of combined sewer overflow will enter the Anacostia River, more than 952 million gallons will enter the Potomac, and more than 52 million gallons will enter Rock Creek.

Viewer Tip: During rain events, you can help to lower the load on DC’s combined sewer system by conserving water. Hold off on activities that use large amounts of water, such as running the dishwasher or washing machine, and make sure that outdoor sprinklers are turned off during rain events.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: DC Water and Sewer Authority: Overflow Predictions for an Average Year: http://www.dcwasa.com/education/css/cso_predictions.cfm; DC WASA What Can I dohttp://www.dcwasa.com/education/css/whatcanido.cfm)

Lower the Load (Great Lakes )

administrator — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:10:39 +0000

Sewer overflows are one of the most common reasons for Great Lakes beach closings. In some communities, both storm water and sewage are carried by the same pipe, meaning that a heavy rain storm can overload the system. When sewer systems overflow, sewage and storm water end up in local waters.

Viewer Tip: During rainstorms, consider putting off activities that use a lot of water, such as doing laundry or running the dishwasher, until tomorrow. This will help lower the load in the sewer system!

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: Great Lakes Information Network: Great Lakes BeachCast. 2004. “Keeping Beaches Clean.” http://www.great-lakes.net/beachcast/bw_clean.html.)

Lower the Load (Providence, RI)

administrator — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:07:19 +0000

Many urban areas – including Providence – have combined sewer systems, which are designed to carry both rain water and sewage in the same pipe. While the system works well most of the time, heavy rains can overload combined sewer systems, and both rain water and sewage overflow into rivers and the Narragansett Bay. Sewage overflows into local rivers and the Bay can close shellfishing beds – some areas of the Bay are permanently closed, and others are closed when there is more than half-an-inch of rain.

Viewer Tip: One way to lower the load on our sewer systems during heavy rains is to conserve water in your home. Consider waiting until after the storm for household activities that use large amounts of water, such as running the dishwasher or the washing machine.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: Narragansett Bay Commission; US EPA.)

Lower the Load (Baltimore, MD)

administrator — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:04:51 +0000

Many older urban areas, including Baltimore, have combined sewer systems, which are designed to carry both sewage and stormwater to a wastewater treatment plant through shared pipes. During heavy rain events, rain water rushing into storm drains can overload the combined system, and both sewage and rain water can overflow into local waters.

Viewer Tip: When heavy rain is in the forecast, you can help prevent combined sewer overflows by conserving water at home. Hold off on activities that use large amounts of water, such as running the dishwasher or washing machine, and make sure that outdoor sprinklers are turned off during rain events.
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: EPA NPDES. “Combined Sewer Overflows.” http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=5)

Lower the Load (Indianapolis, IN)

administrator — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:33:48 +0000

Indiana has more than 100 communities served by combined sewer systems, which are designed to handle both stormwater and sewage. Sewer overflows can be a major water pollution problem if heavy rains overload the system. When combined sewer systems overflow, stormwater and wastewaster can be dumped directly into local creeks and rivers.

Viewer Tip: Lower the load – disconnect your home downspouts from the city’s sewer system to reduce the amount of rainwater input. Direct stormwater onto a grassy area in your yard, which will allow water to slowly soak back into the ground. The City of Indianapolis has information about how to disconnect your downspout on their Web site: www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPW/Environment/CleanStream/Help/Residents/Connect/downspout.htm

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: City of Indianapolis: Raw Sewage, http://www.indygov.org/eGov/City/DPW/Environment/CleanStream/Problems/Sewage/home.htm)

Downspout Disconnect

administrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:04:13 +0000

In some Detroit communities, both storm water and sewage are carried by the same pipes. When it rains, water runs off of paved surfaces, such as driveways, sidewalks, and roofs, and heads for the storm drain. Too much rainwater runoff in our storm drains can occasionally cause flooding and sewer overflows.

Viewer Tip: An easy way to reduce the amount of water flowing into the storm drain system is to separate the downspouts from your roof from the sanitary sewer. Instead of flowing into the sewer pipes or onto paved areas, direct the water to flow into a vegetated area, where it can slowly soak into the ground.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: Detroit Water and Sewerage Agency. http://www.dwsd.org/projects/index.htm)

Combined Sewer Overload (Providence, RI)

administrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:41:35 +0000

During periods of heavy rainfall, combined sewer systems designed to carry both sewage and storm water can become overloaded. When this happens, the combined sewage and rain water overflows into the nearest body of water, contaminating it with waste and debris. Parts of Narragansett Bay are permanently closed to shellfishing because of the dangers of sewage contaminants. Even when there are relatively low levels of pollutants in the Bay, the filter-feeding mechanism of quahogs concentrates many pollutants, including bacteria, viruses, and other toxics.

Viewer Tip: One way to help prevent combined sewer overflows is to conserve water – using less water at home reduces the amount of water the sewer system must handle. Consider installing low-flow showerheads and toilets in your home. An efficient showerhead can reduce flow by up to 75 percent, and a low-flow toilet can save around 5 gallons per flush!

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: Rhode Island Sea Grant, Quahog Factsheet: http://seagrant.gso.uri.edu/factsheets/fsquahog.html; Rhode Island Department of Health and University of Rhode Island Water Protection Series: Water Conservation in and around the Home.)

Combined Sewer Overload (Atlanta, GA)

administrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:39:04 +0000

Atlanta has over 1500 miles of sewer pipes, and some of those pipes are designed to handle both sewage and storm water. Sometimes, during heavy rains, the system can be overloaded, and both sewage and rain water end up in the nearest body of water.

Viewer Tip: After an overflow occurs, your local health officials will warn you if local waters are unsafe. Be sure to pay attention to the warnings, or ask your local health official if you’re not sure about swimming or fishing.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Sources: Clean Water Atlanta – City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Protection. “Our Water and Sewer Systems Today.” Available from: www.cleanwateratlanta.org/Materials/TownHall4.pdf; United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 2002. “Before You Go to the Beach”)

Combined Sewer Overload (Boston, MA)

administrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:28:28 +0000

Viewer Tip: During heavy rain storms, conserving water at home can help to reduce the amount of water flowing into combined sewer systems. Try to put off activities that use large amounts of water, such as running the dishwasher or washing machine, until drier weather.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: Massachusettes Water Resouces Authority, “The Sewer System.” http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/03sewer/html/sew.htm; The Boston Harbor Association. 1998. “A Citizen’s Guide to Protecting Natural Resources of Boston Harbor.” Available by request – www.tbha.org)

Combined Sewer Overflow

administrator — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:23:07 +0000

During periods of heavy rainfall, combined sewer systems designed to carry both sewage and storm water can become overloaded. When this happens, the combined sewage and rain water overflows into the nearest body of water, contaminating it with waste and debris. While Grand Rapids has been working to eliminate combined sewer overflows in the city since the 1980′s, heavy rain can still sometimes overload the parts of the system that still have overflow points.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: City of Grand Rapids. “Combined Sewer Overflow Update.” Available from: http://www.grand-rapids.mi.us/index.pl?page_id=3323; US EPA)