Community Group Calls for Increased Regulator Oversight of the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)

Cincinnati, Ohio – Frustrated by fighting over the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) between the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Communities United For Action (CUFA) turned to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) for help with sewer issues.

CUFA Board Member Erica Johnson opened the November 9 meeting, “We’ve convened this public forum because our neighborhoods are being left behind in the plans to fix the sewers. We are more than a billion dollars into this project and not only are people struggling financially, they are struggling with damage to their homes and lives.” CUFA highlighted sewer issues in Bond Hill, Muddy Creek, Covedale, and the Ludlow Run Watershed area of Northside.

EVENDALE, Ohio - Yesterday, Communities United For Action (CUFA) members asked the Board of Hamilton County Commissioners to move forward on key points of our "People's Sewer Justice Platform." The Commissioners vowed to take action on: 

• Expansion of the Customer Assistance Program to help more people afford sewer bills; 
• Restructuring sewer rates to be fair for everyone; and
• Ending the requirement to report sewer backups within 24 hours to be eligible for damage compensation. 

Residents from Springlawn Avenue in Northside attended the meeting to ask for a resolution to sewage overflows in their backyards. 

CINCINNATI - Starting today, seniors may qualify for a 25% discount on the sewer portion of their bill. This is a huge CUFA victory, a milestone marking our first Customer Assistance Program in Hamilton County. We are celebrating August 12 from 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM!

CINCINNATI - After years of delayed sewer fixes caused by infighting between the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County over the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) ordered the City and County to move forward with plans they agreed to a decade ago.