Cincinnati and Hamilton County have about two years left to complete the first phase of a program to reduce combined sewer overflows in the region. It is part of federal consent decree finalized in 2006.
There are 23 projects that must be completed by the end of 2018. Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) Director Gerald Checco updated a council committee on the work Tuesday.
“We are confident that all the projects per the phase one of the consent decree will be completed on time,” Checco said. “Though we do not have a lot of buffer to be done. We understand that we have a lot of work to do.”
So far about 75 percent of phase one work has been completed. By the end of the year, more than $800 million worth of work on the consent decree should be completed.
Cincinnati and Hamilton County face financial penalties if any of the projects are not completed by the deadline. Although either side could go to federal court and seek extensions.
“Depending on the circumstances, there would be an effort to negotiate with the regulators to explain any unforeseen circumstances that would delay,” MSD attorney Gina Marsh said. “And we certainly would make every effort to get an extension with the regulators before we allow the rate payer to pay any penalties.”
Negotiations will begin in 2017 on the second phase of the program.
Those talks will be taking place at the same time the city and county are deciding the fate of M-S-D itself. A 1968 agreement that established the sewer district will expire in 2018.
