Ohio PIRG Pushes for Sewage Infrastructure Upgrade to Eliminate Sewage Overflows into Lake Erie

“Sewage Overflow: Billions of Gallons of Sewage Contaminate Lake Erie,” a report released by the Ohio Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), states that more than eight billion gal of sewage contaminated Lake Erie and waterways in the Lake Erie watershed basin from January 2004 – December 2004.

“Lake Erie and lakes, rivers and streams across the state are inundated with sewage pollution. Sewage contains bacteria and viruses that can be harmful to public health, especially for young children and the elderly,” said Amy Gomberg, environmental associate with Ohio PIRG. “The amount of sewage dumped into Lake Erie in 2004 was equivalent to over 2 billion toilet flushes into our Great Lake, a drinking water source for 11 million people.”

Ohio PIRG’s report also reveals that in 2004 the monitored beaches along the Lake Erie shoreline failed to meet criteria for primary-contact recreation, including swimming on 16% of the assessed days. Using E. Coli as the indicator for swimmable beaches, health advisories or warnings were issued for 271 days in 2004. This was an increase from the 255 beach advisory days in 2003 and the 227 beach advisory days in 2002.

Ohio PIRG’s report analyzes eleven out of the 53 CSO communities in the Lake Erie Watershed Basin and reveals that these eleven communities discharged over eight billion gal of untreated sewage to Lake Erie and waterways that feed into Lake Erie in 2004 alone. Combined sewer systems attempt to treat rainwater and sewage. During moderate to heavy rainfall the combined systems take in more wastewater than the treatment plants can handle. When this occurs, sewage either gets backed up or is diverted away from the plant directly into a local waterway.

Ohio PIRG’s report also reveals that the Ohio EPA is not requiring wastewater treatment facilities to consistently monitor sewage discharges, report them to the Ohio EPA or notify the public when sewage flows into a local waterway that could pose a health threat to surrounding communities and visitors. According to the Clean Water Act, the Ohio EPA should be enforcing mandatory guidelines for sewage treatment plants to monitor and report sewage discharges as well as immediately notifying the public when combined sewer overflows occur.

“Sewer pipes are underground, as are the facts regarding sewage dumping in Lake Erie,” said Dr. Jeffrey Reutter the Director of the Ohio Sea Grant College Program. “The contaminants found in untreated sewage lead to water quality degradation, beach advisories, wildlife destruction and human health problems. Lake Erie is arguably Ohio’s most valuable natural resource. I encourage everyone to support all efforts to eliminate combined sewers and prevent raw sewage from entering Lake Erie and any of Ohio’s waterways.”

Representative Oelslager (R-51) is working with Ohio PIRG to craft legislation that would give the public the right to know when sewage is dumped into their waterways. "Ohioans deserve to know if their health is at risk" said Rep. Oelslager. "I am working to make sure that Ohioans can protect their health from the threats of untreated sewage."

In addition to legislation that would require monitoring, tracking and public notification, Ohio PIRG recommends the following solutions:

Communities need to incorporate technologies that will help prevent excessive storm water from flooding our sewer systems. With more control over the storm water that enters our combined sewer systems, there will be less sewage overflowing into our waterways.

State and federal officials need to support more funding for sewage infrastructure improvements that strive toward the elimination of sewage overflows, such as the separation of septic and storm sewage systems.

Ohio PIRG is currently working in collaboration with over 50 organizations and elected officials to come up with a restoration plan for the Great Lakes that would include much needed funding for upgrading Ohio’s sewage infrastructure with the goal of eliminating sewage overflows into the Great Lakes.

Source: Ohio PIRG