• Werk & Westbourne EHRT Project
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• Questions & Comments

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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• What is a combined sewer?

  A combined sewer is a sewer that conveys both stormwater and sanitary sewage to a wastewater plant for treatment.

• What is a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO)?

  A CSO is a discharge of stormwater mixed with sanitary sewage from a combined sewer that occurs during wet weather.

• What is an Enhanced High Rate Treatment (EHRT) facility?

  An EHRT facility is specifically designed to treat and disinfect peak wastewater flows generated by wet weather (rainstorms, snow melts). EHRT facilities use advanced physical-chemical processes to treat wastewater instead of the biological processes used by more conventional wastewater treatment plants. This allows flows to be processed much more quickly. EHRT facilities operate only when needed, are much smaller than conventional treatment facilities and can more easily be designed to blend into the surrounding neighborhood.

• What will the WWEHRT Facility look like?

  MSD is in the early planning and conceptual design phase for this project and many decisions have yet to be made including capacity, facility size and layout. These questions and more will be answered in the next few months. We do know:

  • Portions of the facility will be built underground.
  • The exterior elevation of the facility should not exceed one story.
  • Visible portions of the facility will be designed to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood.

• Will the WWEHRT Facility stop all combined sewer overflow occurrences at this site?

  The WWEHRT Facility will capture most wastewater from storm events.

• Why not build a facility to stop ALL overflows in the area?

  Building a facility that would capture, store and treat all overflows from CSO #522 would require a considerable increase in size of the planned facility as well significant increases in construction and operations costs. Yet, because the planned facility will be able to manage most overflow occurrences, the additional capacity would largely remain unused. As a good steward of its customers’ service fees, MSD must ensure that the funds put toward the EHRT facility are used responsibly and that the facility design maximizes efficiency and effectiveness. We believe we have achieved that with the planned EHRT facility.

• Why not build a conventional treatment facility at this site instead of an EHRT facility?

  Conventional facilities use a biologically-based treatment process which must be "fed" with a constant supply of biomatter, or raw sewage. The combined sewer system overflows at this location intermittently, not enough to support the needs of conventional treatment. In addition, an EHRT facility is a better option for this location because it operates only when needed, is much smaller than a conventional facility, can more easily be designed to blend into the surrounding neighborhood and costs significantly less to build and maintain. It is important to understand though that treated water from both types of facilities must meet federal water quality standards before it is released back into the environment.

• What is the difference between the Werk & Westbourne Enhanced High Rate Treatment facility and the Muddy Creek & Westbourne High Rate Treatment facility?

  The primary difference between the facilities is that the WWEHRT Facility will use a chemically-based enhanced treatment process to accelerate the settling (separation of solid material from the liquid) and treatment process. This will allow the WWEHRT facility to process more wastewater more quickly. The Muddy Creek & Westbourne facility uses the more traditional settling process, which relies strictly on gravity to separate solids from liquids and takes a longer amount of time.

• Is my property going to be assessed a special fee to pay for this specific facility?

  No. Your property will not be assessed a separate fee to pay for construction of the WWEHRT Facility. The facility will be financed through MSD’s Project Groundwork program, which is funded primarily by MSD customers through their service fees.

• Who is funding the project?

  MSD is funding the WWEHRT Facility through its Project Groundwork program. Project Groundwork is funded primarily by MSD customers through their service fees.

• Are my rates going to increase because of this project?

  Because this project is being funded through Project Groundwork, your property will not be assessed a special fee to pay for the WWEHRT Facility. However, MSD expects sewer rates will rise for everyone over the life of Project Groundwork to help pay for much needed system improvements.

• When will construction begin?

  Design and construction of the WWEHRT Facility is expected to be a seven-year process. The planning and conceptual design phase began this summer. Facility design should be complete in the spring of 2014, at which point construction is expected to begin. The facility is scheduled to be operational by December 2017.

• Why will it take so long to begin construction?

  There is a lot of work to be done between now and the start of construction, which is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2014. We are currently in the early stages of planning and design. The technology we will be installing at this facility is complex and there is a significant amount of coordination that must take place. In addition, we need to work with state and federal agencies to ensure that the facility and its operations meet regulatory standards and to obtain the necessary documentation and permits before construction can begin.

• Will construction really take three and a half years to complete? Why so long?

  The project schedule allows for three and a half years to complete construction and begin operation. However, most of the heavy construction will take place over a period of 12 to 18 months in 2014 and 2015. After that, work will continue mostly inside the facility. The facility will begin operation as soon as it is complete. According to MSD’s Consent Decree with federal and state regulatory agencies, the facility must be operational by December 2017. We expect to be finished before that date arrives.

• What will MSD do to minimize disruptions during construction?

  MSD is already working with Green Township representatives to discuss the construction process and ways to reduce disruption. Issues to be addressed include site access, traffic management, noise and dust management.

• How will construction be managed?

  Construction of an EHRT facility near a busy intersection in a residential area is a challenge and there will be disruptions. However, MSD is already working with Green Township representatives to identify ways to minimize disruptions and inconveniences as much as possible and will continue to do so throughout the planning process. More information about the construction process will be available as we get closer to that phase of the project. In the meantime, we welcome your input at MSD.WerkWestbourne@cincinnati-oh.gov.

• Can the community use the site once construction is complete?

  MSD will explore the opportunity for the community to use open space at the site once construction is complete. We will work with Green Township to determine the community’s interest and preference. In the meantime, you are invited to submit your ideas and suggestions to:
  
  Green Township, Public Services
  Fred Schlimm, Director
  (513) 574-8832
  fschlimm@greentwp.org
  
  MSD Engineering Customer Service
  (513) 557-3594
  MSD.WerkWestbourne@cincinnnati-oh.gov