Lakewood has some combined sewers that were designed to collect rainwater and sewage in the same pipe. Most of the time, combined sewer systems transport all of their wastewater to a sewage treatment plant, where it is treated and then discharged to a water body.
During periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt the wastewater volume in a combined sewer system can exceed the capacity of the system. For this reason, combined sewer systems are designed to overflow excess water into nearby water bodies.
These overflows are a significant water pollution concern for the approximately 772 cities in the U.S. that have combined sewer systems (EPA, 2014).
US EPA and Ohio EPA are requiring that Lakewood remove millions of gallons of combined sewer overflow volumes that happens every year. Lakewood is investing in sewer infrastructure to reduce these overflows, including a new high rate treatment system at Lakewood’s Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The overflow status on the website is updated routinely. If a site does not show an overflow but it is raining, there is still the potential that an overflow is occurring.
Drinking water is not affected by these overflows. You may notice public beach advisories when there is recent overflow.
This video is for educational purposes - Lakewood is not part of NEORSD.
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