Metropolitan Sewer District

Plus, Cincinnati Council requests a review of the city's response to flash flooding and other major weather events.

The cleanup from flash flooding events earlier this month continues as officials ask what can be done to prevent or mitigate future problems.

As of Wednesday evening, MSD had completed about 900 investigations.

Over the past 20 years, MSD has confirmed nearly 8,000 sewer backups across the city were caused by the combined sewer system. About $28 million has been paid to homeowners to cover property damage caused by a sewer backup.

A sewage discharge along State Rt. 32 near 8 Mile Road occurred June 24. Officials told the public to avoid the area July 15.

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.

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.

Metropolitan Sewer District Director Diana Christy says the increased cost of constructing a new pump station at the Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant may require rate increases, but not large ones.

Under the program, property owners who currently don't pay for sewer service would be charged a fee for the amount of stormwater runoff they put into the system, but would also be incentivized to reduce stormwater contributions by planting trees or plants.

The only thing more surprising than a podcast about the sewer system is a comic book series about the sewer system. See a transcript of this episode along with more photos and videos at wvxu.org/backedup. Find us online: @cincinnatipublicradio @beccacostellonews @holdshelf