MSD

An estimated 19,000 households in Hamilton County could be eligible for a 25% discount on their monthly sewer bill, but only about 3,500 are getting that discount.

A press release says water-based recreation was restored last week, in consultation with Hamilton County Public Health.

The Metropolitan Sewer District says if it gets county approval, its proposed impervious surface fee pilot program could begin implementation as early as next year.

The Cincinnati Metropolitan Sewer District says a change to the way it calculates sewage use means flat or slightly lower bills for most residential customers and potential increases for some larger industrial users.

The amount of raw sewage discharged into public waters in Greater Cincinnati was higher than average last year, thanks to higher than average rainfall.

MSD serves most of Greater Cincinnati with sewer service, but separate entities are responsible for drinking water and storm water management. Is there a better option? See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf

Hamilton County officials have submitted the Phase 2B plan for bringing the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati into compliance with the Clean Water Act.

One of the biggest barriers to progress is, of course, money. The only source of funding for fixing these problems is sewer rates; advocates say the MSD rate structure puts unfair burden on residential customers, while big corporate customers get significant discounts. Plus, county officials are considering a brand new stormwater fee. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf

So if MSD isn't responsible for stormwater...who is? Backed Up looks into "green infrastructure" in Cincinnati, like the Lick Run Greenway, and why MSD doesn’t do more to keep stormwater out of the combined sewer system. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf

Next on the suspect lineup: the rain. Storm clouds are an ill omen for a city with a combined sewer system like Cincinnati. How has climate change affected precipitation trends in the area? What happens to all that stormwater once it enters the MSD system? And what happens to all the stormwater that never even makes it that far? See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @917WVXU @beccacostellonews @holdshelf