Water Sector News
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Federal consent decree on Cleveland Heights sewer overhaul to stretch out for decades
May 12, 2021
https://www.cleveland.com/community/2021/05/federal-consent-decree-on-cleveland-heights-sewer-overhaul-will-stretch-out-over-many-decades.html
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Consultants hope that the American Rescue Plan will live up to its name and reduce further rate shock to customers footing the bill to bring the city’s antiquated sewer system into federal environmental compliance.
It’s going to take many decades and as much as $570 million to meet all of the requirements of a 2017 partial consent decree over ongoing violations of the Clean Water Act.
Residents have already seen their bills nearly quadruple in that time, although the amount still pales in comparison to what they’re paying the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, which has its own consent decree to navigate.