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The "Dirty Work" of Sewer Maintenance & Treatment
If you tuned into National Public Radio's feature "Dirty Work", you now know a bit about how MSD's inspectors and maintenance crews help keep wastewater flowing. The story, broadcast August 29, 2002 (NPR story and audio), followed several MSD environmental professionals down a line serving a large portion of western Cincinnati. As a follow-up, we thought you might like to know a bit more about them and what they do.
Members of MSD's Wastewater Collection and Wastewater Treatment Divisions were interviewed before, during and after tours of the Lick Run CSO facility and Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The NPR story's focus was on sewer inspectors, but MSD's environmental professionals do "dirty work" all through the collection and treatment processes. NPR's Jack Speer and Melissa Gray experienced the sewers firsthand; perhaps a little more detail is enough for you. (If not, you can contact us about a tour.)
MSD's Environmental Professionals in the Field
MSD Inspector Jack Murray (bottom right) leads NPR's Melissa Gray into the Lick Run sewer, as Henry Chapman looks on
NPR's Melissa Gray descends into Lick Run CSO
Wilbur Nelson, MSD Laborer (left) assists NPR's Jack Speer with safety equipment
Photos by GAC, MSD
Wastewater Collection Crew cleans Lick Run CSO
Photo by GAC, MSD
Jack Murray, a Wastewater Collection Inspector, has lots of experience cleaning and maintaining structures like the Lick Run CSO. In all, MSD operates 215 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) structures throughout the City of Cincinnati. Most of the City's sewer system is intended to carry both sanitary wastes and stormwater runoff. As a result, these structures are vital to flood prevention during heavy rains.
During NPR's visit, Wilbur Nelson, a laborer with the Wastewater Collection Division, was on safety duty. Mr. Nelson, made certain both MSD and NPR personnel were geared up properly (see photos at left). Henry Chapman, MSD's chief tour guide, is a Plant Operator with the Wastewater Treatment Division. Ann Newsom, then MSD's Public Information Officer, was also on the sewer walk.
Roger Kirby supervises 4 crews who work full-time to ensure proper operation of CSO facilities. Each of the 215 locations is inspected at least three times per week. Cleaning, particularly after major rain events, requires major equipment and serious effort (see photo at right).
Lick Run CSO Structure
The Lick Run CSO structure itself is an impressive piece of work. The combined sewer inside measures 20 feet in diameter. 350 miles of sewer lines feed into the structure. On the outside, Lick Run has 14 tide gates to prevent backflooding in the event of a massive flood on the Ohio River. A grit pit in the CSO captures solid materials before sending the water to the Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. A gate-and-float regulator also enables the amount of flow to be controlled in certain conditions. When flows are extremely high, excess water can even leave via an opening in the top of the structure.
Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Secondary Treatment tanks at Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Photo by MJN, MSD
During dry weather, wastewater from the Lick Run CSO flows through 24-inch pipe to the Auxiliary Mill Creek Interceptor. This large pipe, and another roughly parallel to it, carry the flow to the Mill Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (see photos at right). This plant, MSD's largest--and technically second; Little Miami was first--handles about 125 million gallons per day during dry weather. That's enough to fill almost 140 Olympic-sized swimming pools! During rain events, the flow can easily be two to three times that much.
Environmental professionals from the Wastewater Treatment Division like Dave Campbell (Senior Plant Operator) and Rusty Phelps (Plant Maintenance Worker) make every effort to enhance water quality for the residents of Greater Cincinnati. In the last several years, each of MSD's six major plants has received awards for their high attention to standards in environmental protection.
Working for You and Your Commmunity
As you can see, the environmental professionals of MSD strive each day to preserve our natural resources, while maintaining infrastructure key to the economy and vitality of the community. Without their hard work and ingenuity, the water resources of the region would surely suffer. Thankfully, they are at work 24 hours a day.
For more information on this story, please contact Phyllis Calhoun at (513) 244-5122. Story by Mike Nalley, MSD.
Thanks to National Public Radio for permission to use their logos with this story.
