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History

enjoying Charter Oak Park
How Did We Get Here?

The problem of sewer overflows has been a longstanding concern in the eight towns in the MDC District and in many other towns across the nation.
 

During rainy weather, the two types of sewer systems that exist in our area are at risk of overflowing and sending raw sewage into our rivers. Combined Sewer Systems are responsible for Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) into waterways or backing up into yards and basements. Sanitary Sewer Systems are responsible for Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) at eight overflow points in the greater Hartford area..

At the Federal level, the EPA has been developing a national plan to clean up our country’s waterways. MDC and the Connecticut DEP are actively working to comply with the United States EPA requirements.

Early 1980s

MDC completed an initial plan that began to address the EPA’s Preliminary Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Policy. The work included removing roof leader connections to sewers, increasing sewer system capacity, and treatment capacity at the wastewater treatment plants.

Late 1980’s

The MDC commissioned a Combined Sewer Overflow Study to address the problem. An $80 million Referendum was approved to implement program improvements.


During the 1990’s

The Referendum funds built additional wastewater treatment plant improvements, sewer system capacity upgrades, a pilot rain leader disconnect program, local sewer improvements, and a backwater valve program. The District closed more than 80 of its overflow regulators and direct discharges to open waters

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April 1994

The EPA issued a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) guidance policy. Six years later, it became law.


2000

The EPA issued a comprehensive national strategy called the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Policy.

  • The policy mandates that cities, the public, and permitting authorities correct Combined System Overflows to clean up waterways across the country.

  • EPA issued the policy through the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System and the Clean Water Act.
October 2, 2002
The Connecticut DEP issued a Consent Order to ensure that MDC complies with the EPA Combined Sewer Overflow Policy and water quality standards.
  • MDC is required to prepare a Long-Term Control Plan to eliminate Combined Sewer Overflow events.
  • MDC must also address the Nine Minimum Controls, Sampling Plans, Solids and Floatables Control, a Communications Plan, and Long-Term Water Quality Monitoring Plan of area streams and waterways.

2003
The EPA codified Federal Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) policies in regulations requiring that no overflows of sewage occur from sanitary sewers at any time.

  • These SSO regulations apply to the towns of Bloomfield, East Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor.

December 2004
MDC prepared its Long Term Control Plan to address the elimination of CSOs and submitted it to the Connecticut DEP for review. The plan recommends an investment of more than $1 billion in the MDC’s sewer system over the next 15 years, including construction of the following:

  • Sewer separation to remove storm water flows from Hartford’s sewers
  • New consolidation pipes
  • Storage tunnels to minimize overflows during storms
  • Increased wastewater treatment capacity
  • New large conveyance pipes to convey flow to the wastewater treatment plant
  • Infiltration and inflow abatement throughout the District member towns to reduce flows to the sewer system

Typical storm water outfall pipe with CSO contributions. Green MDC signs denote presence of potential CSO discharges. May 11, 2006
Prompted by mounting evidence of SSOs over several years, the EPA and the Department of Justice filed an Order with the Court to eliminate SSOs, levy a fine for past violations, and establish fines for future violations.

In addition to implementing the CSO abatement projects, as required by the CTDEP, MDC must complete the following SSO improvements over the next 12 years:

  • Close more than eight previously accepted sanitary sewer overflow points
  • Make capital and operations investment in the pipe infrastructure
  • Conduct inspections and testing followed by sewer cleaning and elimination of structural cracks and breaks that allow groundwater and storm water into the sewer pipes
  • Remove private inflows
  • Increase wastewater treatment capacity and operations capabilities.

The Department of Justice fined the MDC District $850,000 for past SSO violations.

June 2006

The MDC begins construction at Tower Avenue to eliminate the combined sewer which had chronically overflowed and caused basement flooding in the area.

November 2006

The Clean Water Project Referendum is passed by voters in the eight member towns.

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