DELHI TOWNSHIP, Ohio — More than 300 million gallons of raw sewage overflow from a broken sewer line into Muddy Creek every year, representatives from the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati told members of Cincinnati City Council Tuesday.
“It is old, it is cracking, it is broken and it is exposed in the Muddy Creek itself,” said interim director Diana Christy.
MSD wants to replace the sewer line in Delhi Township. A full replacement would require approval from Hamilton County officials, which MSD representatives claim they do not have.
MSD operates and manages the sewer system but plans must be approved by the county.
Portions of the sewer are nearly 100 years old, built in the 1930s. Christy calls the overflow a “public health threat,” explaining that the sewage remains in the creek until it reaches the pump station and treatment plant.
“The fact that we have to do this has been known,” she said. “These are unauthorized discharges at these points where there are sanitary sewer overflows.”
Members of city council said MSD can’t wait any longer for funding.
“We have to get this done. I don’t think we can spend another year arguing about this,” said councilman Greg Landsman.
“To fix our sewers so that feces is not coming into the creeks that kids play with — I mean, this is just insanity to me that we’re even talking about this,” said councilman Chris Seelbach.
Christy told council members she would not allow her children to play in the creek.
MSD officials said they hope to present a new design to county officials later this week. If funding is approved, they estimate the repairs would be completed by mid-2020.
Christy said rates would not be increased as a result of this project.
