The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSDGC) is using a watershed-based approach for wet weather management and water quality improvements - approaches that consider existing conditions, leverage additional resources and investments, and develop “factor conditions” to support communities of the future. Focusing on a direct enabled and “inform & influence” strategy, as well as source control, MSD has developed an approach to evaluate sustainable infrastructure and systems opportunities within the service area. The goal is to provide: cost effective water quantity management, water quality improvement, and community enhancements.

1. Communities of the Future:
Cincinnati MSD’s Approach to Align
Economies, Communities & the
Environment for maximum benefits
Tony Parrott
Executive Director
MSD of Greater Cincinnati
October 4, 2011

2. MSD Background
• Population Served
• 850,000 in Hamilton County, Ohio
• 220,000 connections
• Double Governance
• Hamilton County Sewer District
• City of Cincinnati

3. MSD Current Environmental Challenge
MSD is among the Top 5 CSO dischargers in the US
3

6. Phase 1 WWIP and Asset Management Costs
Phase 1 Costs (2006$)
$200.0 $1,800.0
$180.0 $1,600.0
$160.0 $1,400.0
$140.0
Annual Cost (M$)
$1,200.0
Total Cost (M$)
$120.0
$1,000.0 Annual
$100.0
$800.0 Total
$80.0
$600.0
$60.0
$40.0 $400.0
$20.0 $200.0
$- $-
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Years

7. Headline from
November 29, 2007
March 1, 2010 Broadcast
“Sewer Rate Hikes
Expected for MSD
Customers

8. MSD Economic Challenges
• Maintaining affordability of residential usage
• Declining usage per account
260
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100
8

9. April 7, 2011
9

10. April 21, 2011
Hamilton County property values drop $5B
10

11. …MSD Opportunity
• Making system upgrades to meet federal mandates
to reduce CSOs and SSOs
• Enabling others to expand customer base through
policy guidelines
• MSD Bond Rating of A++
260
240
220
200
180
160
140
120
100

12. Model of COF

13. Wet Weather Strategy

14. MSD’s Wet Weather Strategy
Hydraulic Grade Line
inside sewer
14

15. Business Case for Wet Weather Strategy
• Low cost/gallon removal
• Limited opportunity – 4 locations within Lower Mill Creek: installation
complete
Real Time Control
• Estimated reduction of approximately 610 MG (400 MG credited towards 2 BG)
• High Capital Cost - Phase 1 Tunnel (7600 ft) to capture 1.6 BG
Storage, Conveyance
• High O&M Cost: pumping & treating large volume of stormwater
& Treatment
• Lower cost/gallon removal
• Strategic focus on large scale opportunities
• Lowers future O&M cost by removing stormwater from pumping & treatment
Source Control
• Improves water quality and increases natural drainage to Mill Creek
15

16. Cost Comparison of CSO Strategies
High Storage &
Treatment
Cost, $
Source
Control
Medium
Real Time
Controls
Low
Low Medium High
Volume Removal, billion gallons
16

17. Wet Weather Strategy Determines Capital Portfolio
Alternative MSD Sustainable
WWIP Current Profile Infrastructure Profile 17

18. 18

20. Lick Run CSO #5: MSD’s largest overflow
Typical Year flow 1.7 Billion Gallons
(modeled)
Current number 5,700 accounts
customers
Land Area 2,720 acres
Tunnel Solution $244 Million
Sustainable Solution Estimated to reduce by 1
billion gallons
20

21. MaryLynn Lodor, MSD Environmental Programs Manager
MSDGC Sustainable Infrastructure
Lick Run Watershed

22. Lower Mill Creek Watershed
Sustainable, Watershed-based approach for evaluating opportunities
22

24. Historical Drainage Lick Run Watershed
North
31 miles of natural conveyance to Mill Creek 24

25. Current Sewer Network Lick Run Watershed
1.7 BG
overflow
volume
55 miles of combined sewers to CSO 5 25

26. SWEP – Sustainable Watershed Evaluation
26

27. Land Use Characteristics

29. April 19, 2011
Guerley Road & Sunset
Avenue
Lick Run Watershed
29

30. Foreclosed Properties
30

31. Auditor’s Assessed Valuation - 2009
31

32. USEPA Areawide Brownfield Phase 1
Site Assessment Grant
• Screened over • 2 blocks Clean
300 parcels • Draft Sampling
• Characterized Plans: 5 of 7
RECs blocks
• Supports • Grant
acquisition applications
planning
32

33. Lick Run: Sustainable Infrastructure Alternative
Lick Run Strategies
1. Strategic Separation & Restoration
2. Detention
3. Downspout Disconnection
4. Reforestation
33

34. 34

35. Early Success Projects
St. Francis Ct Apts
35

36. St. Francis Apartments San Antonio Church
Beekman St Stormwater Park
Rapid Run
Pike

37. Hydrological &Hydraulic
Lick Run Watershed
Investigation Leads 62 catchments 2.1 billion gallons
(annual stormwater runoff)
to Wet Weather Strategic Storm Separation
& Detention
Strategy Downspout
Disconnection (50%)
Reforestation - 50% of Right-of-Way (88 acres)
50% of Steep Hillsides (231 acres)
37

38. 38

39. John Lyons, Strand Associatons
Cost Effective and Sustainable
Wet Weather Solutions
39

40. Existing Combined Sewer System

41. Direct Entry Points

42. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
~1,800 acre priority drainage area (2,700 acres total)

43. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
~70,000 LF of proposed storm sewer
43

44. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
44
~12,500 LF of proposed natural conveyance

45. Glenway Woods Park
• 700’ natural conveyance system
enhancment
• Two detention ponds.
• 3,800 feet of secondary channel
• Geomorphic field analysis for
evaluation of current conditions
and design considerations
(scaling, sediment transport,
etc)
• Scheduled to be constructed in
2012
45

46. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
27 Potential detention opportunities
46

47. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
~7,200 LF of stormwater conveyance in central corridor
47

48. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
48

49. Sustainable Wet Weather Solution
49

50. Community Opportunities Plan

51. Conceptual Channel Conveyance System

52. Conceptual Profile of Channel
Conveyance System

53. Preliminary Grand Ave Cross Section
53

54. Preliminary Grand Ave Cross Section
54

55. Velocities
DEPTH VS. VELOCITY EXAMPLES
• A rule-of-thumb for ‘safe’wading’ says that the product of
velocity in feet/second times depth in feet should be less than 10
for safe wading in streams
5 fps (velocity) * 2 ft (deep) = 10
• A moderate sized person begins to lose stability at 2 fps in 3 ft of
water
• Swift flowing water can knock a person down in depths of only 6
inches
25- year Storm Event Flows, Velocities, and Depths
Channel Velocity Channel
Location Flow (cfs)
(ft/sec) Depth (ft)
Quebec Rd 1,457 4.4 0.3
Grand Ave 1,734 3.4 2.3
Queen City Ave Connection 1,820 3.4 2.1
55

56. CSO#5
Construction Cost Summary
2006 $ Net Present Value
Lick Run Strategic Storm $121,908,582 $139,991,247
Separation & Restored Natural
System
(1.1BG CSO Reduction)
Phase I Tunnel Total $245,497,077 $279,622,091
(7600 ln ft Tunnel, Consolidated Sewers,
Pump Station, 84 MG EHRT – 1.6BG CSO
Reduction)
Phase I Tunnel Total Equivalent to $168,779,240 $192,267,687
Lick Run CSO Reduction Volume
(1.1BG CSO Reduction)

57. Markiea Gore, Community Development
Lick Run Watershed Partnerships
- Agency Partnerships
- Master Planning
57

58. Communities of the Future Advisory
Committee
• Community Council & Business
Association
• Chamber of Commerce Agenda 360
• Sierra Club • Green Partnership of Greater
• Mill Creek Restoration Project Cincinnati
• Community Building Institute – Xavier • Cincinnati Preservation
University • NRMRL, USEPA
• University of Cincinnati • Ohio EPA
• Local Initiative for Support Corporations • Port Authority of Greater Cincinnati
(LISC) • Cincinnati Park Board
• OKI Regional Council of Governments • City & County Departments
• US Green Building Council
58

59. Public Infrastructure Projects as Catalyst
for Development
• Creates jobs and business revenues for local contractors and
tradesmen working on sewer improvement projects;
• Promotes the use of small, woman-owned, and minority businesses
on sewer improvement projects;
• Increases property values in homes that previously experienced
chronic sewage backups requiring disclosure to prospective buyers;
• Increases property values in areas that previously experienced
chronic overflows resulting in poor water quality after rains, odors,
and sewer debris; and
• Promotes business growth - new business development or existing
business expansions - in the MSD service area through the creation
of sewer connection credits.

60. Master Plan Development
•
•
•

61. Lick Run Community Workshop No. 1
Exit Survey Questions YES NO
Do you feel better informed after this meeting than before? 91% 9%
Given your understanding at this point, do you support
89% 11%
MSD's investment in the alternative to the deep tunnel?
Will you attend the next Lick Run Community Design
94% 6%
Workshop in October 2011?
Will you be interested in taking a Lick Run Watershed Tour?
59% 15%
(26% had already taken a Watershed Tour.)

62. Master Plan Development

63. Master Plan Development

64. Master Plan Development

65. Community Development Role
Partner with MSD to help leverage the momentum and
investment of the potential sewer improvements
projects in the Cincinnati neighborhoods.

66. Business Growth Assistance
• Providing needed support to businesses that may be
impacted by the Lick Run Watershed project.
• Department offers various incentives for business
retention and expansion within the city
• ChooseCincy.com
• Commercial Property Tax Incentives
• Small Business Loans
• Job Creation Incentives
• Strong neighborhood networks

67. Short Term vs. Long Term
Community Development Approach
Short Term Long Term
• Identify impacted • Identify and facilitate a variety
businesses of economic redevelopment
opportunities
• Focus on business retention
and support assistance • Expand CFAC membership to
involve more private sector
• Meet with business owners economic and residential
to understand their redevelopment experts.
concerns and needs. • Expanding community
development initiatives to
include housing development
in the project area.

68. Taking Action
• Informing residents and
business owners
• Attending open house and
community design workshops
• Mailings
• Questionnaires
• Working closely with MSD
acquisition and relocation
specialists
• Creating partnerships with
outside agencies to assist
our efforts and provide
support

69. Clean Ohio Grant Submittal
Ohio Department of Development
•City Fire Department
•Public Services
•Traffic/Engineering
•Recreation
•Parks
Total Project Amount: $1,695,731
Grant Request: $1,279,354
Local Dollars to be Allocated if Awarded: $137,200

70. St. Francis Ct Apartments
Bioretention
Learning Gardens
Two large-scale bioinfiltration basins
Approximately 7,000 square feet
The bioinfiltration basins capture
stormwater runoff from Beekman St Stormwater Park
approximately 3 acres, including a
parking lot tributary to the basins

71. John Grosshans, USEPA Region 5
Lick Run Watershed Partnerships
71

72. Lick Run Watershed Partnerships
 Lick Run Watershed Strategic Integration Plan
 “Road map” for partner efforts
 Connections to other City, State, and Federal efforts
 Mutually supportive goals
 HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership
 HUD and DOT
 Other EPA Core Programs

73. Lick Run Watershed: Integration Strategy

74. Strategic Integration Plan Goals
 Make new connections
 Identify the “critical path”
 Enhance existing partnerships
 Avoid “missed opportunities”
 Speak the agency language
 Lessons for other watersheds
 Pilot project for other cities to follow

75. Framework Action
1. Community Engagement and Vision
2. Land Acquisition, Brownfields, and Land
Use Plan
3. Cincinnati Parks Coordination (Ongoing)
4. Regulatory Framework and Land
Development Code
5. Maintenance Agreements

76. Highlights
 Community Engagement
 Neighborhood Feedback Loops
 Foundation support
 University involvement
 Community Planning and Redevelopment
 Future Land Use Plan
 Vacant property – Transition Support
 Land Development Code (HUD Community Challenge)
 Lick Run Watershed Workshops (HUD Community
Challenge)
 Brownfields Assessment and Clean Up
 Green Cincinnati Plan

77. Lick Run Corridor: Implementation Strategy
HUD
Planning &
Buildings DOT Commerce
Transportation Community
Federal
& Engineering Development
City
Housing and
Community
Partnerships
FEMA US ACE
Economic
Parks Development
Transportation Development
EPA
Police and
Fire
Environmental
Quality
State
Emergency
Historic
Management
Preservation
Agency
Environmental
Protection
Agency

78. Partnership Road Map
Commerce Development EPA
Environmental
Quality
HUD
Economic Planning &
Development Transportation
Buildings
Environmental
DOT
Protection
Agency
Housing and Transportation &
Community Historic Engineering
Community
Development Partnerships Preservation
Parks
Police and
Fire US ACE

79. Partnership for Sustainable Communities
 HUD Community Challenge Grant ($2.4M)
• Lick Run Watershed Plan
• Lower Mill Creek Watershed Plan
• Citywide Zoning Ordinance Rewrite
• New code to include water-friendly zoning
 Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) Area
 Community Development Block Grant Eligible
 St. Francis Apartments – Rain Garden Pilot
• Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage

80. Partnership for Sustainable Communities

81. CDBG Blighted Building Demo
(2009 – Present)

82. St. Francis Apartments - FHA

83. St. Francis Apartments

84. Partnership for Sustainable Communities

85. Partnership for Sustainable
Communities

86. Partnership for Sustainable Communities
• Brownfields and
Land Revitalization
• Green Buildings
• Research and Development
• Air Quality
• Energy
• Climate Change
• Environmental Justice

87. Tony Parrott, Executive Director
Summary
87

88. The “Getting to Yes” Pipeline
• Internal
Passage 2 • Political
Passage 4
Understanding • Community Support • Federal Policy
Involvement Solutions
Passage 1 Passage 3
Is it the Truth? Is it FAIR to
all concerned? Will it build
GOODWILL and
Rotary 4 Way Test BETTER
FRIENDSHIPS
Will it be
BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?

89. MSD Sustainable Infrastructure
Investments

90. Tony Parrott, Executive Director
WWW.PROJECTGROUNDWORK.ORG MSDGC
513-244-5521
Tony.Parrott@cincinnati-oh.gov
MaryLynn Lodor
WWW.PROJECTGROUNDWORK.ORG MSDGC
513-244-5535
MaryLynn.Lodor@cincinnati-oh.gov
Markeia Gore
Community Development
513-352-1932
Markiea.Gore@cincinnati-oh.gov
John Lyons, PE
Strand Associates, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
513-861-5600
John.Lyons@strand.com
Jonathan Grosshans, AICP, LEED-AP
US EPA – Region 5
Chicago IL
312-353-5617
Grosshans.jon@epa.gov