As the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati tackles one of the largest public works projects in city history, primarily aimed at reducing combined sewer overflows into local waterways, it’s taking an unconventional approach: opting for “green” solutions whenever possible.
Since it formally began taking steps to reduce combined sewer overflows in 2009 as dictated by a consent decree negotiated with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the utility has embraced everything from small-scale swales, green rooftops and rain gardens to larger endeavors, such as retention basins and stream-restoration projects.
“We’ve built a lot of above-ground storage and conveyance features that can either convey or hold
