Project Updates
Previous Progress Update – March 2012 (return to the current progress update)
Thank you for your continued interest in MSD’s Werk & Westbourne Enhanced High Rate Treatment (WWEHRT) Facility project, situated on the southwest corner of the Werk & Westbourne intersection. This facility will allow MSD to control most combined sewer overflow events at this site, provide better protection of public health and the local environment, and increase neighborhood curb appeal by eliminating sewer debris and reducing sewer odors in the near vicinity. The following is a summary of the project’s recent progress.
The WWEHRT Facility project is nearing completion of the initial Planning and Conceptual Design Development phase. This phase involved an extensive series of site studies, computer-based modeling and general information gathering. The knowledge gained is being used to prepare recommendations for the facility’s conceptual design.
Conceptual Design Report
The WWEHRT project team is currently developing the Conceptual Design Report (CDR). This report outlines the team’s recommendations for the configuration of the WWEHRT Facility and the specific processes to be used. In addition, the CDR will outline recommendations for how the facility may be situated on the project site and where access points may be located. The CDR is due to be finalized in early May and will be submitted to the regulatory agencies for review. Comments and feedback are expected later this fall.
Clean Water Act Permit Applications and Regulator Compliance
The WWEHRT project team is in the process of obtaining a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit and a Section 401 Water Quality Certification. These documents are used to regulate discharges of fill material (dirt) into waters of the United States, including streams like Schaible Creek. Construction cannot begin until these documents are obtained.
The WWHERT project team submitted the Section 404 permit application in October of 2011. The application has been reviewed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and several Native American tribal associations. Notification of the Section 404 permit application was also sent to project area neighbors. The comment period for the 404 permit application has closed and the WWEHRT team has finalized and delivered responses to comments received. The project team has taken comments received into consideration and is now finalizing the conceptual site plan in order to continue with the 401 and 404 permit processes.
MSD and the project team intend to meet with Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) in April to discuss the WWEHRT Facility concept design, and will use feedback from the OEPA in subsequent design phases.
Data Collection
Most field studies have been completed. The studies included property investigations, environmental and ecological surveys, topographic surveys, stream and wet weather flow monitoring, and water quality sampling. Crews may periodically return to the project site over the upcoming months to continue assessing site conditions.
Next Steps
Once the design recommendations for the WWEHRT Facility are approved, the two-year Detailed Design Phase will begin. Construction of the WWEHRT Facility is scheduled to start in 2014 and the facility will be operational no later than December 2017.
For More Information
Questions can be directed to the project team by sending a message to MSD.WerkWestbourne@cincinnati-oh.gov or by calling the MSD Engineering Customer Service Line at (513) 557-3594.