The MSD 'cries wolf' with Sewer Overflow Warnings

You can subscribe to an alerting system from the MSD for sewer overflow warnings. Sounds great except the system sends the alert that a strong possibility that Combined Sewer Overflows could occur every day there is even a 5% chance of rain for just one hour of the day...I guess the MSD is never wrong if they send the alert every day, they can always say they notified the public regardless if the notification becomes meaningless background noise.

The Weather Channel. August 9th, 2017

The alert is for August 9th, 2017. The precipitation expected is 0% until 11 PM. For 11 PM to Midnight there is a 5% chance of precipitation. Is this a meaningful warning or an attempt to mitigate liability? Email sent 7:11 AM, August 9th, 2017 by: msd.communications@cincinnati-oh.gov

**WET WEATHER SEWER OVERFLOW WARNING TODAY** Thank you for signing up to receive email information about wet weather overflows in the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) service area. Our goal is to provide updates about potential impacts to area waterways. Today, weather conditions indicate a strong possibility that Combined Sewer Overflows could occur.

What is a Combined Sewer Overflow?   Like most older urban areas around the country, the sewer collection system in the MSD service area was constructed with pipes that combine sanitary sewage (wastewater from homes and businesses) with stormwater (runoff from streets and rooftops).  To manage the increased volume of flow in pipes when it rains or when water levels in area rivers and streams are elevated, the system was designed to allow CSOs to occur, sending untreated sewage and stormwater into area waterways. What should I do if CSOs have occurred? After a rainstorm, you should avoid contact with streams in the combined sewer areas for at least 72 hours. You also should avoid contact with streams in the combined sewer areas until 72 hours after water levels in area rivers and streams have returned to normal elevation. Signs are posted along our waterways to identify wet weather overflow outfalls. Contact with the water in these areas could be hazardous.  Even in dry weather, you should exercise sound judgment with regard to urban streams. What is MSD doing to correct the CSO problem? MSD is committed to improving water quality, and is currently embarking on the largest capital improvement program in Hamilton County's history to address the challenges of CSOs.  We encourage you to learn more, and to partner with us in this historic undertaking.  For more information please visit the Project Groundwork website at ProjectGroundwork.org , or email us at msd.communications@cincinnati-oh.gov.

Sincerely, MSD Communications Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati