EPA May Reconsider Consent Decree in Euclid’s Favor

       Members of City Council have reason to believe the EPA is more than willing to revise its

A Portland OR green street diverts
water from the sewer into the land

Consent Decree in Euclid’s favor. Such a revision could result in lower compliance standards and an extended time frame. Either or both could result in lower sewer bills for Euclid and a much improved landscape. 
       The holdup seems to be an Administration unwilling to ask the EPA for a hearing. Council is hoping public demand will move the Administration off the fence.
       Back in 2005 the EPA accused Euclid of violating the Clean Water Act and demanded it improve the way our Plant treats storm and sewer water before releasing it into Lake Erie. In 2011 the City entered into a Consent Decree with the EPA to resolve the problem. Euclid’s solution under advice from its engineers CT Consultants, was to build huge above ground storage tanks at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to hold overflow water until it could be treated and replace certain lines that during overflows release improperly treated sewage into Lake Erie. The plan had an estimated $80 million cost and required acquisition of the homes on E 221 and E 224. Needless to say, many residents were upset.
       That plan changed after Ward 5 Councilman Patrick McLaughlin (himself an engineer) suggested an alternative – use membrane technology, build underground storage tanks off-site, closer to Lake Shore Blvd. Only then did CT admit that yes they knew of the technology but hadn’t thought of recommending it. There were a lot of upsides – dozens of residents would keep their homes, the lake view wouldn’t be spoiled, the technology was cutting edge and the EPA would go along with it. The downside - the cost of compliance jumped to somewhere between $136 and $150 million. 
       Residential sewer rates in 2012 totaled $46.17/mcf. Today, rates are at $66.23/mcf and by 2019 are expected to reach $81.57/mcf. They will continue to increase until 2025. The driving force behind the increases is the Capital portion needed to pay for the entirely Gray Infrastructure Plan. From Jan thru March 2012, Ward 7 Councilman Daryl Langman wrote a series of posts for his blog 7th Ward-Euclid. They’re a good read if you want a background on

A disconnected downspout
diverts water from the sewer into a
rain garden. Photo courtesy of Low
Impact Developmenmt Org

the EPA mandate, sewer rate increases and the potential savings of green infrastructure. To better understand Green Infrastructure, visit my Environment Page.
       In March 2012, following McLaughlin’s and Langman’s lead, Council passed a Resolution urging the Administration to consider a combination of Gray and Green Infrastructure. 18 months later on August 28, 2013, Strand Associates, a leader in green infrastructure (GI) solutions presented the City with various options that would divert water out of the system, bring the City into compliance with the EPA’s requirements AND LOWER LONG TERM COSTS. Members of Council, the Administration and CT Consultants were present.  Prior to the meeting, CT Consultants changed the model Strand was initially given without notifying Strand.  Read More